arranged between himself and M. de Bouille, that the horses of M. de Choiseul should be stationed beforehand in a spot agreed upon in Varennes, and should conduct the carriages to Dun and Stenay, where M. de Bouille awaited them.  It will also be borne in mind that in compliance with the instructions of M. de Bouille, M. de Choiseul and M. de Guoguelas, who, with the detachment of fifty hussars, were to await the king at Pont Sommeville, and then follow in his rear, had not awaited him nor followed him.  Instead of reaching Varennes at the same time as the king, these officers on leaving Pont Sommeville had taken a road that avoids Sainte Menehould, and thus materially lengthens the distance between Pont Sommeville and Varennes.  Their object in this was to avoid Sainte Menehould, in which the passage of the hussars had created some excitement the day previous.  The consequence was, that neither M. de Guoguelas, nor M. de Choiseul, these two guides and confidants of the king’s flight, were at Varennes on his arrival, nor did they reach there until an hour after.  The carriages had stopped at the entrance of Varennes.  The king, surprised to meet neither M. de Choiseul nor M. de Guoguelas, neither escort nor relays, hoped that the cracking of the postilions’ whips would procure them fresh horses to continue their journey.  The three body-guards went from door to door, to inquire where the horses had been placed, but could obtain no information.

XII.

The little town of Varennes is formed into two divisions, the upper and lower town, separated by a river and bridge.  M. Guoguelas had stationed the fresh horses in the lower town on the other side of the bridge:  the measure was in itself prudent, because the carriages would cross the bridge at full speed, and also, because in case of popular tumult, the changing horses and departure would be more easy when the bridge was once crossed; but the king should have been, but was not, informed of it.  The king and queen, greatly alarmed, left the carriage and wandered about in the deserted streets of the upper town for half an hour, seeking for the relays.  In vain did they knock at the door of the houses in which lights were burning, they could not hear of them.  At last they returned in despair to the carriages, from which the postilions, wearied with waiting, threatened to unharness the horses:  by dint of bribes and promises, however, they persuaded them to remount and continue their road:  the carriages again were in motion, and the travellers reassured themselves that this was nothing but a misunderstanding, and that in a few moments they should be in the camp of M. de Bouille.  They traversed the upper town without any difficulty, all was buried in the most perfect tranquillity,—­a few men alone are on the watch, and they are silent and concealed.