dislodge the old King and his Guard from Rambouillet. They did not turn
him out, first of all because the King himself had decided to disband
his guard and retire to Cherbourg with no escort but four companies of
his bodyguard; and, secondly, because these same volunteers, numerous as
they were on leaving Paris, melted away rapidly on the road, and above
all things took good care not to venture within range of the Guard's
fire. Nevertheless, they returned in triumph from Rambouillet, bringing
back the royal horses and carriages, which they had seized without
striking a blow. I was horrified to see the great carriages, with six or
eight horses, still driven by the wretched coachmen and postilions, in
their state liveries, enter the Place du Palais-Royal--believing as I
did that they were bringing back the King and his family as prisoners,
into the very jaws of the Revolution. But, happily, this was not the
case. The only people in the carriages were some young blackguards,
dressed up in extraordinary garments, dressing-gowns and cotton caps,
and I know not what other masquerading trash, intended to call forth the
ribald jokes of the multitude. It was a disgusting scene. The days
passed on, and by degrees Paris returned to its ordinary life. The
streets were repaired, vehicles began to circulate again. Soldiers,
gendarmes, policemen, were to be seen once more, and a certain sense of
security revived. At all events the eternal struggle of order against
disorder began afresh. Those who formed the most turbulent element of
the Revolutionary party were induced, by degrees, to engage in the army,
and were drafted off to Algiers, under the title of "Regiments de la
Charte." It was less easy to get rid of a Guard of Honour, numbering
some two or three hundred men, which had formed itself on its own
responsibility, nominally for the protection of my father and of the
Palais-Royal. This guard was always in the vestibule and on the
staircase, night and day alike. It was an omnium gatherum of vagabonds,
prowling ruffians of the vilest kind, ragged scamps, all carrying arms,