Page:Works of Thomas Carlyle - Volume 02.djvu/287

OCT. 5, 1789] Pentecost, and is original member of the Breton Club. Thereupon 'rises huge shout of Vive Lechapelier, and several armed persons spring up behind and before to escort him.'

Nevertheless, news, despatches from Lafayette, or vague noise of rumour, have pierced through, by side roads. In the National Assembly, while all is busy discussing the order of the day; regretting that there should be Anti-National Repasts in Opera-halls; that his Majesty should still hesitate about accepting the Rights of Man, and hang conditions and peradventures on them,—Mirabeau steps up to the President, experienced Mounier as it chanced to be; and articulates, in bass undertone: 'Mounier, Paris marche sur nous (Paris is marching on us).'—'May be (Je n'en sais rien)!'—'Believe it or disbelieve it, that is not my concern; but Paris, I say, is marching on us. Fall suddenly unwell; go over to the Château; tell them this. There is not a moment to lose.'—'Paris marching on us?' responds Mounier, with an atrabiliar accent: 'Well, so much the better! We shall the sooner be a Republic.' Mirabeau quits him, as one quits an experienced President getting blindfold into deep waters; and the order of the day continues as before.

Yes, Paris is marching on us; and more than the women of Paris! Scarcely was Maillard gone, when M. de Gouvion's message to all the Districts, and such tocsin and drumming of the générale, began to take effect. Armed National Guards from every District; especially the Grenadiers of the Centre, who are our old Gardes Françaises, arrive, in quick sequence, on the Place de Grève. An 'immense people' is there; Saint-Antoine, with pike and rusty firelock, is all crowding thither, be it welcome or unwelcome. The Centre Grenadiers are received with cheering: 'It is not cheers that we want,' answer they gloomily; 'the Nation has been insulted; to arms, and come with us for orders!' Ha, sits the wind so? Patriotism and Patrollotism are now one! VOL. I.