The Sword of Honor; or, The Foundation of the French Republic: A Tale of The French RevolutionSue, Eugène
History
The Sword of Honor; or, The Foundation of the French Republic: A Tale of The French Revolution
Sue, Eugène
France -- History -- Revolution, 1789-1799 -- Fiction
Victory, evidently, not a suspension of hostilities, had terminated the
battle. Clearly, also, the victory had been a decisive one. But who were
the conquerors, the inhabitants of the Sections, or the Swiss regiments?
Terrible alternative! Under the spell of this incertitude the tumult, at
its height some minutes before, fell of itself. A poignant load weighed
upon every heart, choked every voice, paralyzed every movement; a
mournful silence held sway over the house. If the insurrection were
victorious, it was done for Louis XVI and the monarchy! Marie Antoinette
by her attitude and facial expression revealed her belief--she was
confident the royal troops had won the day.
The uncertainty was not long in being dispelled. A deputation of members
of the new Commune of Paris presented itself at the bar of the Assembly.
It was attended by citizens bearing a banner with the device "LIBERTY,
EQUALITY, FRATERNITY."
The head of the deputation spoke:
"Citizens, we are the victors! After prodigies of heroism, the people
have taken the Tuileries! Long live the Nation!"
The majority of the Representatives rose in their seats, and all
repeated with enthusiasm:
"Long live the Nation!"
The joy, the patriotic exaltation of the galleries bordered on delirium.
The session previously so agitated was now resumed amid relative calm.
All doubt as to the triumph of the people being laid, the deputies went
back to their places; the president tapped his bell, and said:
"I beg the members of the Assembly, as well as the public in the
galleries, to refrain from further interruption. The graver the
circumstances, all the more should we preserve calmness and dignity in
our deliberations. The delegate of the Commune has the floor."
"Citizen legislators," resumed the latter, "in the name of the
victorious people, we have come to demand of you the deposition of Louis
Capet." All eyes were turned towards the booth where Louis XVI sat with
his face in his hands. "To-morrow we shall bring to the Assembly the
records of this memorable day of the tenth of August, 1792. This record
should be sent to the forty-four thousand municipalities of France, that
it may arouse their national pride!" (Applause.) "We announce to you
that Petion, Manuel and Danton are still our colleagues in the Commune.
We have named Citizen Santerre commander of the armed force of Paris."
Seeing the delegate was through, President Morlot announced to the
Assembly: "During the invasion of the Tuileries by the people, a box of
jewels was found in the Queen's apartment. A citizen, wounded in the
attack, has just thrown it on the table."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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