Page:An adventure (1911).pdf/168

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158
AN ADVENTURE

that being the nearest way out of the gardens.[1]

The carriage was ready, and the moment had come for rallying her force to act the part of a true queen in whatever circumstances were before her. The vivid dream was over, and in proportion as her retrospect was concerned with more important matters, the details stood out less clearly in her mind.

There was no refreshment in going over the events of the rest of that day; though some of them came back to her in rapid succession. The hurried return of the King from hunting at Meudon; the councils; the variations of policy; the presence of a rough and alarming-looking crowd on the Place d'Armes; the free fights; the deputation of women escorted by Mounier on the part of the Assembly: then the final ordering of the carriages too late for escape; the heavy depressing rain from 4 p.m.

  1. According to M. de Nolhac (see note to Consignes de Marie Antoinette, p. 7) the porte de la ménagerie should be placed near the buildings of the kitchens and conciergerie. In Mique's map (1783) a broad passage led through these buildings from the French garden to the avenue.