"Ah, poor Baked one," sang out the Marquis, making a hideous pun on the unfortunate officer's name, "you are cooked! All they have to do now is to eat you!" "On other placards were written in large letters, 'Names of the Traitors to the Nation: Louis Capet--Marie Antoinette--Provence--Artois--Conti--Bourbon--Polignac--Breteuil--Foulon'--and others." "That is intended to point out these names to the fury of the populace!" gasped the Viscount of Mirabeau. "The rumor runs through Paris that to-morrow the people will rise in arms and march on Versailles." "So much the better," exclaimed the Viscount. "They will be cut to pieces, this rabble. Cannoniers--to your pieces--fire!" "Go on, tell us what you know," said Plouernel to his steward Robert. "Is that all?" "Alas no, my lord. This miserable populace in arms surrounds and threatens the City Hall. The old Board of Aldermen is dissolved, and is replaced by a new revolutionary committee, which has taken the power into its own hands." "Are the names of this committee known?" asked the Count. "Yes, my lord. From the City Hall windows they threw to the rioting people lists with the names. Here is one which our emissary got hold of:--'President of the permanent committee, Monsieur Flesselles, ex-Provost of the merchants'--" "Oh, well," laughed the Duke, "if the other members of the committee are revolutionists of that stamp, we can sleep in peace. Flesselles is in our employ." "Finish reading your paper," ordered the Count. "'The said committee, in session assembled, decrees: Article I--A city militia shall immediately be organized in each district, composed of licensed business men. Article II--The cockade of this militia shall be blue and red, the city colors.'" "Is that all? Finish reporting," said Plouernel, seeing the steward pause. "One of our spies, on entering the neighborhood of the Palais Royal, heard threats hurled against his Majesty Louis XVI, and especially against her Majesty, the Queen. Everyone looks for terrible events to-morrow, my lord." Seeing he had nothing more to report, Plouernel allowed the steward to depart, first ordering him to come back with any fresher information. "Now gentlemen," Victoria began when the steward had withdrawn from the room, "the gravity of the situation takes foremost place. There is no longer room for deliberation--there must be action. Time is pressing. Count, has the court foreseen that the agitation in Paris would drive the malcontents to open revolt? Is it prepared to combat the uprising?" "Everything has been anticipated, madam," answered Plouernel. "Measures are on foot to repulse the rebels. This very morning I received word as to the plans of the court." "Why then do you allow us to wander into objectless suppositions and discussions?" asked the Cardinal.