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r to prevent this proceeding。 I foresaw the effect it would have upon the Queen's feeling heart； and the painful constraint she would experience； having the horrible Santerre； the commandant of a battalion of the Parisian guard； behind her chair during dinner…time。 I could not make M。 de la Villeurnoy comprehend my argument； the Queen was gone to mass； surrounded by her whole Court； and I had not even means of apprising her of his intention。
When dinner was over I heard a knocking at the door of my apartment； which opened into the corridor next that of the Queen； it was herself。 She asked me whether there was anybody with me； I was alone； she threw herself into an armchair； and told me she came to weep with me over the foolish conduct of the ultras of the King's party。 〃We must fall；〃 said she； 〃attacked as we are by men who possess every talent and shrink from no crime； while we are defended only by those who are no doubt very estimable； but have no adequate idea of our situation。 They have exposed me to the animosity of both parties by presenting the widow and son of Favras to me。 Were I free to act as I wish； I should take the child of the man who has just sacrificed himself for us and place him at table between the King and myself； but surrounded by the assassins who have destroyed his father； I did not dare even to cast my eyes upon him。 The royalists will blame me for not having appeared interested in this poor child； the revolutionists will be enraged at the idea that his presentation should have been thought agreeable to me。〃 However； the Queen added that she knew Madame de Favras was in want； and that she desired me to send her next day； through a person who could be relied on； a few rouleaus of fifty Louis； and to direct that she should be assured her Majesty would always watch over the fortunes of herself and her son。
In the month of March following I had an opportunity of ascertaining the King's sentiments respecting the schemes which were continually proposed to him for making his escape。 One night about ten o'clock Comte d'Inisdal； who was deputed by the nobility； came to request that I would see him in private； as he had an important matter to communicate to me。 He told me that on that very night the King was to be carried off； that the section of the National Guard； that day commanded by M。 d'Aumont； was gained over； and that sets of horses； furnished by some good royalists； were placed in relays at suitable distances； that he had just left a number of the nobility assembled for the execution of this scheme； and that he had been sent to me that I might； through the medium of the Queen； obtain the King's positive consent to it before midnight； that the King was aware of their plan； but that his Majesty never would speak decidedly； and that it was necessary he should consent to the undertaking。 I greatly displeased Comte d'Inisdal by expressing my astonishment that the nobility at the moment of the execution of so important a project should send to me； the Queen's first woman； to obtain a consent which ought to have been the basis of any well…concerted scheme。 I told him； also； that it would be impossible for me to go at that time to the Queen's apartments without exciting the attention of the people in the antechambers； that the King was at cards with the Queen and his family； and that I never broke in upon their privacy unless I was called for。 I added； however； that M。 Campan could enter without being called； and if the Count chose to give him his confidence he might rely upon him。
My father…in…law； to whom Comte d'Inisdal repeated what he had said to me； took the commission upon himself； and went to the Queen's apartments。 The King was playing at whist with the Queen； Monsieur； and Madame； Madame Elisabeth was kneeling on a stool near the table。 M。 Campan informed the Queen of what had been communicated to me； nobody uttered a word。 The Queen broke silence and said to the King； 〃Do you hear； Sire； what Campan says to us？〃〃Yes； I hear；〃 said the King； and continued his game。 Monsieur； who was in the habit of introducing passages from plays into his conversation； said to my father…in…law； 〃M。 Campan； that pretty little couplet again； if you please；〃 and pressed the King to reply。 At length the Queen said； 〃But something must be said to Campan。〃 The King then spoke to my father…in…law in these words： 〃Tell M。 d'Inisdal that I cannot consent to be carried off！〃 The Queen enjoined M。 Campan to take care and； report this answer faithfully。 〃You understand；〃 added she； 〃the King cannot consent to be carried off。〃
Comte d'Inisdal was very much dissatisfied with the King's answer； and went out； saying； 〃I understand； he wishes to throw all the blame； beforehand； upon those who are to devote themselves for him。〃
He went away； and I thought the enterprise would be abandoned。 However； the Queen remained alone with me till midnight； preparing her cases of valuables； and ordered me not to go to bed。 She imagined the King's answer would be understood as a tacit consent； and merely a refusal to participate in the design。 I do not know what passed in the King's apartments during the night； but I occasionally looked out at the windows： I saw the garden clear； I heard no noise in the palace； and day at length confirmed my opinion that the project had been given up。 〃We must； however； fly；〃 said the Queen to me； shortly afterwards； 〃who knows how far the factious may go？ The danger increases every day。〃
＇The disturbances of the 13th of April； 1790； occasioned by the warmth of the discussions upon Dom Gerle's imprudent motion in the National Assembly； having afforded room for apprehension that the enemies of the country would endeavour to carry off the King from the capital； M。 de La Fayette promised to keep watch； and told Louis XVI。 that if he saw any alarming movement among the disaffected he would give him notice of it by the discharge of a cannon from Henri IV。's battery on the Pont Neuf。 On the same night a few casual discharges of musketry were heard from the terrace of the Tuileries。 The King； deceived by the noise； flew to the Queen's apartments； he did not find her； he ran to the Dauphin's room； where he found the Queen holding her son in her arms。 〃Madame；〃 said the King to her； 〃I have been seeking you； and you have made me uneasy。〃 The Queen； showing her son； said to him； 〃I was at my post。〃〃Anecdotes of the Reign of Louis XVI。〃＇
This Princess received advice and memorials from all quarters。 Rivarol addressed several to her； which I read to her。 They were full of ingenious observations； but the Queen did not find that they； contained anything of essential service under the circumstances in which the royal family was placed。 Comte du Moustier also sent memorials and plans of conduct。 I remember that in one of his writings he said to the King； 〃Read 'Telemachus' again； Sire； in that book which delighted your Majesty in infancy you will find the first seeds of those principles which； erroneously followed up by men of ardent imaginations； are bringing on the explosion we expect every moment。〃 I read s