"M.

le Comte d'Artois will then become a hero," said the queen ironically, who at one time was excessively fond of this young prince, but now hated him.

The king, on his part, feared that moral forfeiture with which he was menaced, under pretence of delivering the monarchy.

He knew not which to fear the most, his friends or his enemies.

Flight only, to the centre of a faithful army, could remove him from both these perils; but flight was also a peril.