He, entirely controlled by Madame Roland, proposed to the National Assembly, without authority from the king, or the consent of the council, to assemble round Paris a camp of 20,000 troops.

This army, composed of _federes_ chosen from amongst the most enthusiastic persons of the provinces, would be, as the Girondists believed, a kind of central army of opinions devoted to the Assembly, counter-balancing the king's guard, repressing the national guard, and recalling to mind that army of the parliament which, under the orders of Cromwell, had conducted Charles I.
to the scaffold.
The Assembly, with the exception of the constitutional party, seized on this idea as hatred seizes the arm which is offered to it.

The king felt the blow; Dumouriez saw through the perfidy, and could not repress his choler against Servan in the council-chamber.

His reproaches were those of a loyal defender of his king.

The replies of Servan were evasive, but full of provocation.