The Countess De Charny - Volume II by Alexandre Dumas

that was the number furnished.”
    “But why this great discrepancy in numbers? “
    “That is for the king to explain, — not forme. It is quite possible that he distrusted the National Guards.”
    “But asked you for powder.”
    ” That is true ; but unfortunately you are not authorised to receive it.”
    “That’s a pretty answer!” cried Mandat. “It is your place to make it the proper thing then, as the order must emanate from you.”
    The discussion had reached a point where it would be difficult for Petion to defend himself; but, fortunately for him, the door opened just then, and Rœderer, the syndic of the municipality, helped the mayor out of his dilemma by saying: —
    “The king is asking for you, Monsieur Petion,”
    The king was really awaiting Petion’s coming with great impatience.
    ” So here you are at last. Monsieur Petion ! ” he exclaimed. “What is the condition of affairs in Paris?”
    Petion gave him a pretty correct idea of the condition of things.
    “Have you nothing more to say to me, monsieur?” asked the king, anxiously.
    “Nothing, Sire.”
    The king looked at him searchingly.
    “Nothing, nothing whatever?”
    Petion opened his eyes in astonishment, as if unable to understand this persistency on the part of the king.
    The king, in turn, was waiting for Petion to raise his hand to his eye, — this, it will be remembered, being the signal by which the mayor of Paris was to indicate that the
     
    88 LA COMTESSE DE CHARNY.
    king could rely upon him in return lor the two hundred thousand francs paid him.
    Petion scratched his ear, but did not evince tlie slightest inclination to place his finger on his eye. So the king had been duped. Some scoundrel had pocketed the two hundred thousand francs.
    The queen entered just as the king was racking his brain to find out what question to put to Fetion next.
    “Well, is he a friend to us?” asked the queen, in a whispered aside.
    “No,” replied the king. “At least he has made no sign to that effect.”
    “Then he is our prisoner.”
    “Am I at liberty to retire? ” asked Petion.
    “Don’t let him go, for God’s sake,” pleaded Marie Antoinette,
    “No, monsieur, not just now,” stammered the king. “You will be free to go presently; but there is something more I wish to say to you. Step into my cabinet,” he added, raising his voice.
    To those in his cabinet these words meant: “I intrust Petion to your care. Watch him. Don’t let him get away.”
    The men in the cabinet understood this perfectly, and immediately surrounded Petion, — who felt himself a prisoner.
    Fortunately, Mandat was not there. He was busy contesting an order which had just been issued for him to report at the city-hall without delay.
    Mandat was wanted at the Hôtel de Ville, exactly as Petion was wanted at the Tuileries. Mandat objected strongly to obeying this order, however; and as for Petion, he was the thirtieth person in a room where four persons would have been very much in one another’s way.
    “Gentlemen,” he said at last, “we shall suffocate, if we remain here any longer.”
    This was the opinion of everybody, so no one opposed
     
    THE TENTH OF AUGUST. 89
    Petion’s exit; but everybody followed him, though no one ventured upon any open attempt to restrain his movements.
    He went down the first stairway they came to. It led into a basement room, which opened into the garden. He feared at first that this door was locked, but it proved to be unfastened.
    Petion consequently found himself in a much larger and more airy prison, but one which was no less secure than the cabinet.
    Accompanied by Rœderer, he began to walk up and down the terrace. This terrace was lighted by a row of lamps. One of the National Guards stepped up and extinguished those nearest the mayor and his companion. What did this mean? Petion suspected mischief.
    “Monsieur,” he said, addressing a Swiss officer named Salis-Lizers, who seemed to be following him,