short deep warble, salute the coming Sun. Stars fade
out, and Galaxies; Street-lamps of the City of God. The Universe, O my
brothers, is flinging wide its portals for the Levee of the GREAT HIGH
KING. Thou, poor King Louis, farest nevertheless, as mortals do, towards
Orient lands of Hope; and the Tuileries with its Levees, and France and
the Earth itself, is but a larger kind of doghutch,--occasionally going
rabid.

Chapter 2.4.IV.

Attitude.

But in Paris, at six in the morning; when some Patriot Deputy, warned by
a billet, awoke Lafayette, and they went to the Tuileries?--Imagination
may paint, but words cannot, the surprise of Lafayette; or with what
bewilderment helpless Gouvion rolled glassy Argus's eyes, discerning now
that his false Chambermaid told true!

However, it is to be recorded that Paris, thanks to an august National
Assembly, did, on this seeming doomsday, surpass itself. Never,
according to Historian eye-witnesses, was there seen such an 'imposing
attitude.' (Deux Amis, vi. 67-178; Toulongeon, ii. 1-38; Camille,
Prudhomme and Editors in Hist. Parl. x. 240-4.) Sections all 'in
permanence;' our Townhall, too, having first, about ten o'clock, fired
three solemn alarm-cannons: above all, our National Assembly! National
Assembly, likewise permanent, decides what is needful; with unanimous
consent, for the Cote Droit sits dumb, afraid of the Lanterne. Decides
with a calm promptitude, which rises towards the sublime. One must needs
vote, for the thing is self-evident, that his Majesty has been abducted,
or spirited away, 'enleve,' by some person or persons unknown: in which
case, what will the Constitution have us do? Let us return to first
principles, as we always say; "revenons aux principes."

By first or by second principles, much is promptly decided: Ministers
are sent for, instructed how to continue their functions; Lafayette is
examined; and Gouvion, who gives a most helpless account, the best he
can. Letters are found written: one Letter, of immense magnitude; all
in his Majesty's hand, and evidently of his Majesty's own composition;
addressed to the National Assembly. It details, with earnestness, with a
childlike simplicity, what woes his Majesty has suffered. Woes great and
small: A Necker seen applauded, a Majesty not; then insurrection; want
of due cash in Civil List; general want of cash, furniture and order;
anarchy everywhere; Deficit never yet, in the smallest, 'choked or
comble:'--