de
Plougastel. And although nothing could now be plainer than the
seething unrest that heralded the explosion to come, yet the air of
gaiety, indeed of jocularity, prevailing at Court - whither madame
and mademoiselle went almost daily - reassured them. M. de
Plougastel had come and gone again, back to Coblenz on that secret
business that kept him now almost constantly absent from his wife.
But whilst with her he had positively assured her that all measures
were taken, and that an insurrection was a thing to be welcomed,
because it could have one only conclusion, the final crushing of
the Revolution in the courtyard of the Tuileries. That, he added,
was why the King remained in Paris. But for his confidence in that
he would put himself in the centre of his Swiss and his knights of
the dagger, and quit the capital. They would hack a way out for
him easily if his departure were opposed. But not even that would
be necessary.
Yet in those early days of August, after her husband's departure
the effect of his inspiring words was gradually dissipated by the
march of events under madame's own eyes.
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