Towards midnight, several companies of the French guards entered the hall of the Pas-Perdus; all the exits were guarded.

The court was in commotion, the young councillors demanded that the deliberations should go on publicly.
"Gentlemen," said President de Gourgues, "would you derogate from the ancient forms ?" The spectators withdrew.

The Marquis d'Agoult, aide-major of the French guards, demanded admission; he had orders from the king.

The ushers opened the doors; at sight of the magistrates in scarlet robes, motionless upon their seats, the officer was for a moment abashed; he cast his eye from bench to bench, his voice faltered when he read the order signed by the king to arrest "MM.

d'Espremesnil and De Montsabert, in the grand chamber or elsewhere." "The court will proceed to deliberate thereon, sir," replied the president.