The14thofJulyhadbrokenuponPariswithitsfearfulevents。Therevolutionhadforthefirsttimeopenedthecrater，aftersubterraneanthunderhadlongbeenheard，andafterthegroundofParishadlongbeenshaken。Theglowinglava-streamsofintenseexcitement，popularrisings，andmurder，hadbrokenoutandfloodedallParis，andbeforethemjudgment，discretion，andtrutheven，hadtakenflight。
ThepeoplehadstormedtheBastilewitharms，killedthegovernor，andforthefirsttimethedreadfulcry“Tothelamp-post!“washeardinthestreetsofParis；forthefirsttimetheironarmsofthelamp-postshadbeentransformedtogallows，onwhichthoseweresuspendedwhomthepeoplehaddeclaredguilty。
Meanwhilethelava-streamsofrevolutionhadnotyetflowedoutasfarasVersailles。
Ontheeveningofthe14thofJuly，peaceandsilencehadsettledearlyuponthepalace，afterawholedayspentintheapartmentsofthekingandqueenwiththegreatestanxiety，andafterresolutionhadfollowedresolutionintheeffortstocometoadecision。
MarieAntoinettehadearlywithdrawntoherrooms。Theking，too，hadretiredtorest，andhadalreadyfallenintoadeepslumberuponhisbed。Hehadonlysleptafewhours，however，whenheheardsomethingmovingnearhisbed，withtheevidentintentionofawakeninghim。Thekingrecognizedhisvalet，who，withsignsofthegreatestalarminhisface，announcedtheDukedeLiancourt，grandmaitredelagarde-robeofhismajesty，whowasintheantechamber，andwhopressinglyurgedanimmediateaudiencewiththeking。Louistrembledaninstant，andtriedtothinkwhattodo。Thenherosefromhisbedwithaquickandenergeticmotion，andorderedthevalettodresshimatonce。Afterthishadbeendonewiththeutmostrapidity，thekingorderedthattheDukedeLiancourtshouldbesummonedtotheadjacentapartment，whenhewouldreceivehim。
Asthekingwentoutinthegreatestexcitement，hesawtheduke，whosedevotiontothepersonofthekingwaswellknown，standingbeforehimwithpale，distortedcountenanceandtremblinglimbs。
“Whathashappened，myfriend？“askedtheking，inbreathlesshaste。
“Sire，“answeredtheDukedeLiancourt，withsuppressedvoice，“inthedischargeofmyoffice，whichpermitstheclosestapproachtoyourmajesty，Ihaveundertakentobringyoutidingswhicharenowsoconfirmed，andwhicharesoimportantanddreadful，thatitwouldbeafollytotrytokeepwhathashappenedlongerfromyourknowledge。“
“Youspeakoftheoccurrencesinthecapital？“askedtheking，slightlydrawingback。
“Ihavebeentoldthatyourmajestyhasnotyetbeeninformed，“
continuedtheduke，“andyetinthecourseofyesterdaythemostdreadfuleventsoccurredinParis。Theheadofthearmyhadnotventuredtosendyourmajestyandthecabinetanyreport。ItwasknownyesterdayinVersaillesatnightfallthatthepeople，with，armsintheirhands，hadstormedanddestroyedtheBastile。IhavejustreceivedacourierfromParis，andthesetidingsareconfirmedwiththemosthorribleparticularity。Sire，Ihelditmydutyasafaithfulservantofthecrowntobreakthesilencewhichhashithertohinderedyourmajestyfromseeingclearlyandactingaccordingly。InParis，notonlyhastheBastilebeenstormedbythepeople，buttrulydreadfulcrimesandmurdershavetakenplace。ThebloodyheadsofDelaunayandFlesselleswerecarriedonpikesthroughthecitybywildcrowdsofpeople。ApartofthefortificationsoftheBastilehavebeenlevelled。Severaloftheinvalides，whowereguardingthefort，havebeenfoundsuspendedfromthelantern-posts。Awantoffidelityhasbeguntoappearintheotherregiments。ThearmedpeoplenowarrayedinthestreetsofParisareestimatedattwohundredthousandmen。Theyfearthisverynightarisingofthewholepopulationofthecity。“
Thekinghadlistenedstanding，asinasaddream。Hisfacehadbecomepale，buthisbearingwasunchanged。
“Thereisthenarevolt!“saidLouisXVI。，afterapause，asifsuddenlyawakeningfromdeepthought。
“No，sire，“answeredtheduke，earnestly，“itisarevolution。“
“Thequeenwasright，“saidthemonarch，softly，tohimself；“andnowriversofbloodwouldbenecessarytohidetheruinthathasgrownsogreat。Butmyresolutionistaken；thebloodoftheFrenchshallnotbepouredout。“
“Sire，“criedLiancourt，withasolemngesture，“thesafetyofFranceandoftheroyalfamilyliesinthisexpressionofyourmajesty。IoughttobeandImustbeplain-spokenthishour。Thegreatestdangerliesinyourmajesty’sfollowingthefaithlesscounselsofyourministers。HowIblessthishourwhichisgrantedmetostandfacetofacewithyourmajesty，anddaretoaddressmyselftoyourownjudgmentandtoyourheart!Sire，thespiritoftheinfatuatedcapitalwillmakerapidandmonstrousstepsforward。
IconjureyoumakeyourappearanceintheNationalAssemblyto-day，anduttertherethewordofpeace。Yourappearancewillworkwonders；itwilldisarmthepartiesandmakethisbodyofmenthetruestalliesofthecrown。“
Thekinglookedathimwithalong，penetratingglance。Theyouthfulfireinwhichthenobledukehadspokenappearedtomovetheking。
Heextendedhishandandpressedtheduke’sinhisown。Thenhesaidsoftly：“YouareyourselfoneofthemostinfluentialmembersofthisNationalAssembly，mylordduke。CanyougivemeyourpersonalwordthatmyappearancetherewillbeviewedasindicatingtheinterestofthecrowninthewelfareofFrance？“
Atthismomentthefirstglowofthemorningenteredtheapartment，andoverpoweredthepalecandle-lightwhichtillthenhadilluminatedtheroom。
“TheAssemblylongseverydayandeveryhourfortheconciliatorywordsofyourmajesty，“criedLiancourt。“ThedoubtsanddisquietintowhichtheNationalAssemblyisfallingmoreandmoreeverydayarenottobedispelledinanyotherwaythanbytheappearanceofyourmajesty’sgraciousface。Ibeseechyoutoappearto-dayattheNationalAssembly。Theserviceofto-day，whichbeginsinafewhours，maytakethemostunfortunateturn，ifyou，sire，donottakethissavingstep。“
Justthenthedooropened，andMonsieur，togetherwithCountd’Artois，entered。Bothbrothersofthekingappearedtobeinthegreatestexcitement。FromtheirappearanceandgesturesitcouldbeinferredthatthenewsbroughtbytheDukedeLiancourthadreachedthepalaceofVersailles。
LiancourtatonceapproachedtheCountd’Artois，andsaidtohimindecisivetones：
“Prince，yourheadisthreatenedbythepeople。Ihavewithmyowneyesseentheposterwhichannouncesthisfearfulproscription。“
Theprinceutteredacryofterroratthesewords，andstoodinthemiddleoftheroomlikeonetransfixed。
“Itisgood，ifthepeoplethinkso，“hesaidthen，recoveringhimself。“Iam，likethepeople，foropenwar。Theywantmyhead，andIwanttheirheads。Whydowenotfire？Afixedpolicy，noquartertotheso-calledfreedomideas-cannonwellserved!Thesealonecansaveus!“
“Hismajestythekinghascometoadifferentconclusion!“saidtheDukedeLiancourt，bowinglowbeforetheking，whostoodcalmlybywithfoldedarms。
“Ibegmybrothers，theCountdeProvenceandtheCountd’Artois，toaccompanymethismorningtotheAssemblyofStates-General，“saidtheking，inafirmtone。
“IwishtogothitherinordertoannouncetotheAssemblymyresolutiontowithdrawmytroops。AtthesametimeIshallannouncetothemmydecidedwishthattheymaycompletetheworkoftheircounselsinpeace，forIhavenohigheraimthanthroughthemtolearnthewillofthenation。“
Countd’Artoisretreatedastepinamazement。Uponhismobilefaceappearedthesharp，satiricalexpressionwhichwaspeculiartothecharacteroftheprince。ItwasdifferentwithProvence，who，attheking’swords，quicklyapproachedhimtopresshishandintokenofcordialagreementandhelp。
Atthismomentthedoorofthechamberwasopened，andthequeen，accompaniedbyseveralpersons，hermostintimatecompanions，enteredinvisibleexcitement。
“Doesyourmajestyknowwhathashappened？“sheasked，withpalefaceandtearfuleyes，assheviolentlygraspedtheking’shand。
“Itwillbeallwellyet，“saidtheking，withgentledignity；“itwillproveahelptousthatwehavenothingasyettoaccuseourselveswith。Iamresolvedtogoto-daytotheNationalAssembly，andtoshowitasignofmypersonalconfidence，inannouncingthewithdrawalofmytroopsfromParisandVersailles。“
Thequeenlookedatherhusbandwiththegreatestamazement；then，likeoneinatrance，shedroppedhishandandstoodsupportingherfairheaduponherhand，withathoughtful，painedexpression。
“Bydoingsoyourmajestywillmaketherevolutionanirrevocablefact，“shethensaid，slowlyraisinghereyestohim；“andittroublesme，sire，thatyouwillagainsetfootinanAssemblynumberingsomanydreadfulandhostilemen，andinwhichtheresolutionmadelastmonthtodisbanditoughttohavebeencarriedintoeffectlongago。“
“HastheAssembly，infact，somanydreadfulmembers？“askedtheking，withhisgood-naturedsmile。“YetIseebeforemeheretwoextremelyamiablemembersofthatAssembly，andtheirlooksreallygivemecouragetoappearthere。Thereismyold，truefriend，theDukedeLiancourt，andeveninthetrainofyourmajestythereisthevaliantCountdelaMarck，whomIheartilywelcome。MayInot，CountdelaMarck，dependuponsomefavorwithyourcolleaguesintheNationalAssembly？“askedtheking，withanamiableexpression。
“Sire，“answeredthecount，inhismostperfectcourtmanner，“inthevarietyofpersonsconstitutingtheAssembly，Idonotknowasingleonewhowouldbeabletoclosehishearttothedirectwordofthemonarch，andsuchcondescendinggrace。Thenobility，towhosesideIbelong，wouldfinditselfconfirmedtherebyinitsfidelity；
theclergywouldthankGodforthemanifestationofroyalauthoritywhichshallbringpeace；andtheThirdEstatewouldhavetoconfessinitsastonishmentthatsafetycomesonlyfromthemonarch’shands。“
Thekingsmiledandnoddedinfriendlymannertothecount。
“Itseemstome，“hesaid，“thatthetimeisapproachingforustogototheAssembly。TheirroyalhighnessesCountdeProvenceandCountd’Artoiswillaccompanyme。IcommissiontheDukedeLiancourttogobeforeustotheSalledesMenus，andtoannouncetotheAssembly，directlyaftertheopeningofthesession，thatweshallappearthereatonceinperson。“
Onthisthekingdismissedallwhowerepresent。Thequeentooktenderleaveofhim，inamannerindicatingherexcitedfeelings。