Chapters 26 and 27 Summary and Analysis

With the help of Axel Fersen, the royal family sneaked out one by one from the Tuileries one night, setting their escape plan in motion. Gathering together in a large carriage, they set out quietly for the border with Belgium. The plan was to travel with just a few escorts at first so as not to arouse suspicion. At a town near the border, a group of soldiers would be waiting to take over the escort for the last part of the journey to the border. The large overloaded carriage moved slowly, however, and the family was delayed. The officer waiting for them at the meeting point became concerned when they had not arrived by the time they were expected. Finally, he determined they must have been found out and sent back to Paris and left for the border...