king, arrest the Cardinal de Rohan, and take him under escort to the
Bastile."

A general cry of horror followed these words, which rolled like a
crashing thunder-clap through the careless, coquetting, and
unsuspecting company. Then followed a breathless silence.

All eyes were directed to the cardinal, who, pale as death, and yet
maintaining his noble carriage, walked along at ease.

At this point a young officer, pale like the cardinal, like all in
fact, approached the great ecclesiastic, and gently took his arm.

"Cardinal," said he, with sorrowful tone, "in the name of the king,
I arrest your eminence. I am ordered, monseigneur, to conduct you to
the Bastile."

"Come, then, my son," answered the cardinal, quickly, making his way
slowly through the throng, which respectfully opened to let him
pass--" come, since the king commands it, let us go to the Bastile."

He passed on to the door. But when the officer had opened it, he
turned round once more to the hall. Standing erect, with all the
exalted dignity of his station and his person, he gave the amazed
company his blessing.

Then the door closed behind him, and with pale faces the lords and
ladies of the court dispersed to convey the horrible tidings to
Versailles and Paris, that the king had caused the cardinal, the
grand almoner of France, to be arrested in his official robes, and