Increasing excitement.--Inflammatory speech of Marat.--The king and queen resolve to fly.--Effort's of the king's brother.--Exasperation of the people.--Intention of the king.--Deliberations of the emigrants.--Dangers thicken.--The plan of flight.--The Marquis de Bouille.--The king refuses to change his plan.--The Marquis d'Agoult.--The Count de Fersen.--His noble character.--The king and queen leave the palace.--The queen loses her way.--Departure from Paris.--Arrival at Bondy.--Departure of the Count de Fersen.--The passport.--Appearance of the fugitives.--An accident.--The journey renewed.--Emotions of the fugitives.--Suspicions excited.--Failure of the guard.--The king recognized.--The dragoons and National Guard.--The post-master's son.--He forms an ambush.--Arrival at Varennes.--Alarm of the king.--The royal family arrested.--The alarm given.--The king discovers himself.--His affecting appeal.--An affecting scene.--The royal group.--Appeal of the queen.--Telegraphic dispatch to Paris.--Intense agony of the queen.--Consternation in Paris.--The palace forced.--Insults to the royal family.--Measures to arrest the king.--The tumult subsides. The ferment in the National Assembly was steadily and strongly increasing. Every day brought new rumors of the preparation of the emigrants to invade France, aided by the armies of monarchical Europe, and to desolate the rebellious empire with fire and sword. Tidings were floating upon every breeze, grossly exaggerated, of the designs of the king and queen to escape, to join the avenging army, and to wreak a terrible vengeance upon their country. Furious speeches were made in the Assembly and in the streets, to rouse to madness the people, now destitute of work and of bread. "Citizens," ferociously exclaimed Marat, "watch, with an eagle eye, that palace, the impenetrable den where plots are ripening against the people. There a perfidious queen lords it over a treacherous king, and rears the cubs of tyranny. Lawless priests there consecrate the arms which are to be bathed in the blood of the people. The genius of Austria is there, guided by the Austrian Antoinette. The emigrants are there stimulated in their thirst for vengeance. Every night the nobility, with concealed daggers, steal into this den. They are knights of the poniard--assassins of the people. Why is not the property of emigrants confiscated--their houses burned--a price set upon their heads? The king is ready for flight. Watch! watch! a great blow is preparing--is ready to burst; if you do not prevent it by a counter blow more sudden, more terrible, the people and liberty are annihilated."