At the peril of their lives, they conducted her to her room. There she was seized with agony. She called the Dauphin—she looked for the Dauphin, but no Dauphin was there. Madame Royale took her by the hand and led her into the bed-room, and pointed out to her the Dauphin, who, overcome with fatigue, slept. She could not believe, after the threats she had heard, that the whole of the royal family could re-enter their palace safe and sound. I returned to the carriage, where still remained Madame Elizabeth and the King. Barnave thought that it would not be too much for him and Pétion to safeguard the King. “Some one,” cried he—“some one to offer Madame Elizabeth an arm.” Madame Elizabeth descended from the carriage with her usual angelic calmness. “Monsieur,” said she to me, “will you give me your arm?” I was frightened out of my wits. “Oh, madame,” said I; “this dress?” “The dress that you wear is far better than a royal robe. And besides,” continued she, “I have watched you: you are a young man of a good heart.” I threw my gun over my shoulder, and took my hat in my hand. “Madame,” said I, “if you desire one ready to die for you—to throw down his life in your behalf, your choice could not fall on one better than myself.” They saw Madame Elizabeth take the arm of a simple National Guard, and they clapped their hands. Arrived at the foot of the staircase, I wished to retire. “My brother?” said she, trying to see. I looked back. “He is coming,” said I, “between M. Barnave and M. Pétion.” I then bowed to Madame Elizabeth a second time. “Will you not return to see us, sir?” asked Madame Elizabeth. “I fear, madame, that I shall not again have the opportunity of being of service to you.” “Perhaps so, but you have been; and, whatever people may say, we are a family that never forget.” At this moment the King arrived. “Thank you, gentlemen; thank you,” said he to Barnave and Pétion. “I need not say to you that if you like to come up-stairs——” “Sire,” replied Barnave, “your Majesty and her Majesty the Queen are at present in safety. We must go to render an account of our mission to the Assembly.” They bowed to the King, and retired. I did the same; that is to say, I bowed; but as I was retiring, Madame Elizabeth, pointing me out to the King, said, “My brother, this young man?” She evidently, in her noble heart, did not wish me to go without some recompense. “’Tis true,” said the King; “I forgot that he was your _protegé_.” “Say, rather, that I am his _protegé_.” He took me by the collar of my coat. “Look here, young man; unhappy as we are, can we do nothing to help you?” I felt wounded that the King should think that I required to be paid for what I had done. “Sire,” replied I, “if you make a promise to the nation, keep it; and, as a citizen, you will have done all for me that I can ask.” “You see, sister,” said the King, “he is a savage.” “What is your name, sir?” asked Madame Elizabeth. “Réné Besson.”