“It is,” said he, “a gun manufactured at Versailles. Where did you procure it?” “The Duc d’Enghien gave it to me, sire.” “Yes,” said the King, “the Condés have all the benefits on this side,—‘the department of the Meuse,’ as they call it.” Then looking towards me: “Have you ever served princes?” “Sire,” said I, smiling, “is it necessary to have served princes in order to receive a present from them?” The Queen bent her regards upon the King. “Strange!” said she. I retreated a pace. The King beckoned me, but not knowing how to address me, he said, “My young friend, you say that the Duc d’Enghien gave you that gun?” “Yes, sire. I understand,” said I, “that the King wishes to know upon what occasion this gun was presented to me. I was the nephew of a park-keeper of the Forest of Argonne, whose name was Father Descharmes. The Duc de Condé and the Duc d’Enghien often hunted in this forest. The Duc d’Enghien took a fancy to me, and gave me this gun.” The King, for a moment, appeared buried in thought. “Your uncle is still alive?” he then asked. “Sire, he is dead?” “Why do you not solicit his place?” “Because, sire, the keepers wear livery. I am a free man.” “Children suck in republican ideas, even with their mothers’ milk!” murmured the King. He then threw himself back in his carriage. I know not if the King spoke again; but the carriage at the moment stopped; and, perchance, with it stopped something of importance. We had arrived at Port Bassion. Suddenly was heard a cry: “The commissaires! the commissaires!” At this moment, a man on horseback dashed up to the door of the King’s carriage. The King put out his head, to see what had caused the halt. “Sire,” said the horseman, “here are three deputies, who wish to direct the return of your Majesty.” “Aha!” said the King, “Can you tell me the names of these estimable gentlemen?” “Their names, sire, are Citizens Latour-Maubourg, Barnave, and Pétion.” The three deputies represented the three different parties of the Assembly. Latour-Maubourg was Royalist, Barnave was Constitutional, Pétion was Republican. The crowd respectfully drew back. Three men approached the royal carriage, stopped at the door, and saluted the King, who returned their inclination. One of them held in his hand a paper, which he read in a loud voice. It was the decree of the National Assembly. The man who read it was Pétion. This decree ordered them to proceed to the King, not only to ensure his safety, but also as a mark of respect due to royalty, as represented in the persons of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. The King knew that M. Latour-Maubourg was a Royalist. He therefore desired that, as two deputies had to sit in the carriage with him, he would name the two. The Queen expressed the same desire. M. Latour-Maubourg replied, in a whisper:—