[Footnote 176: The Duchess of Polignac was the most intimate friend of the queen. Though enjoying an income from the crown of two hundred and ninety thousand francs ($58,400) annually, she was deemed, when compared with others of the nobles, poor. The queen had assigned her a magnificent suite of apartments in the Palace of Versailles at the head of the marble stairs. The saloons of the duchess were the rendezvous of the court in all its plottings against the people. Here originated that aristocratic club which called into being antagonistic popular clubs all over the kingdom.--_Madame Campan_, vol. i., p. 139; _Weber_, vol. ii., p. 23.] [Footnote 177: Hist. Phil. de la Rev. Fr., par Ant. Fantin Desodoards, vol. i., p. 165; M. Rabaud de St. Etienne, vol. i., p. 69; Hist. Parlem., vol. ii., p. 117.] [Footnote 178: Necker, speaking of the plots of the court, writes, "I could never ascertain certainly what design was contemplated. There were secrets and after-secrets, and I am convinced that the king himself was not in all of them. It was intended, perhaps, according to circumstances, to draw the monarch into measures which they did not dare to mention to him beforehand."--Vol. ii., p. 85.] [Footnote 179: Madame Campan's Memoirs of Marie Antoinette, vol. ii., p. 48.] CHAPTER XV. THE KING VISITS PARIS. Views of the Patriots.--Pardon of the French Guards.--Religious Ceremonies.--Recall of Necker.--The King visits Paris.--Action of the Clergy.--The King at the Hôtel de Ville.--Return of the King to Versailles.--Count d'Artois, the Polignacs, and others leave France.--Insolence of the Servants.--Sufferings of the People.--Persecution of the Corn-dealers.--Berthier of Toulon.--M. Foulon.--Their Assassination.--Humane Attempts of Necker.--Abolition of Feudal Rights.