lastly, the manner in which the approach to
the citadel was barred by an entire company (this being the only place
where the patriots could procure arms), combine to prove that this plan
was the result of much forethought; for, while it appeared to be only
defensive, it enabled the insurrectionists to attack without much,
danger; it caused others to believe that they had been first attacked.
It was successfully carried out before the citizens were armed, and until
then only a part of the foot guard and the twelve dragoons at the palace
had offered any resistance to the conspirators.

The red flag round which, in case of civil war, all good citizens were
expected to gather, and which was kept at the town hall, and which should
have been brought out at the first shot, was now loudly called for. The
Abbe de Belmont, a canon, vicar-general, and municipal official, was
persuaded, almost forced, to become standard-bearer, as being the most
likely on account of his ecclesiastical position to awe rebels who had
taken up arms in the name of religion. The abbe himself gives the
following account of the manner in which he fulfilled this mandate:

"About seven o'clock in the evening I was engaged with MM. Porthier and
Ferrand in auditing accounts, when we heard a noise in the court, and
going out on the lobby, we saw several dragoons coming upstairs, amongst
whom was M. Paris. They told us that fighting was going on in the place
de-l'Eveche, because some one or other had brought a note to the porter
ordering him to admit no more dragoons to the palace on pain of death.
At this point I interrupted their story by asking why the gates had not
been closed and the bearer of the letter arrested, but they replied to me
that it had not been possible; thereupon MM. Ferrand and Ponthier put on
their scarfs and went out.

"A few instants later several dragoons, amongst whom I recognised none
but MM. Lezan du Pontet, Paris junior, and Boudon, accompanied by a great
number of the militia, entered, demanding that the red flag should be
brought out. They tried to open the door of the council hall, and
finding it locked, they called upon me for the key. I asked that one of
the attendants should be sent for, but they were all out; then I went to
the hall-porter to see if he knew where the key was. He said M. Berding
had taken it. Meanwhile, just as the volunteers were about to force an
entrance, someone ran up with the key. The door was op