d to admit him to her
presence, but there was nothing to which she felt a stronger repugnance.
His profligate character excited a feeling of perfect disgust in her mind;
but for the public good she overcame it, and, having in the course of June
removed to St. Cloud for change of air, on the 3d of July she, accompanied
by the king, received him in the garden of that palace. The account which
she sent her brother of the interview shows with what a mixture of
feelings she had been agitated. She speaks of herself as "shivering with
horror" as the moment drew near, and can not bring herself to describe him
except as a "monster," though, she admits that his language speedily
removed her agitation, which, when he was first presented to her, had
nearly made her ill. "He seemed to be actuated by entire good faith, and
to be altogether devoted to the king; and Louis was highly pleased with
him, so that they now thought every thing was safe.[6]"

She, on her part, had made an equally favorable impression on him. She had
adroitly flattered his high opinion of himself by saying that "if she had
been speaking to persons of a different class and character she should
have felt the necessity of being guarded in her language, but that in
dealing with a Mirabeau there could be no need of such caution;" and he
told his confidant, La Marck, that till he knew "the soul and thoughts of
the daughter of Maria Teresa, and learned how fully he could reckon on
that august ally, he had seen nothing of the court but its weakness; but
now confidence had raised his courage, and gratitude had made the
prosecution of his principles a duty;[7]" and in some subsequent letters
he speaks of every thing as depending on the queen, and describes in brief
but forcible language his appreciation of the dangers which surrounded
her, and of the magnanimous courage with which he sees that she is
prepared to confront them. "The king," he says, "has but one man about
him, and that is his wife. There is no safety for her but in the
reestablishment of the royal authority. I love to believe that she would
not desire to preserve life without the crown. What I am quite certain of
is, that she will not preserve her life unless she preserves her crown."

In his interview with her, as she reported it to the emperor, he had
recommended, as the first step to be adopted by the king and herself, a
departure from Paris; and, in reference to that plan, which he at all
times regarde