When these meetings were utterly impossible, Barnave wrote to the queen.

He reckoned greatly on the strength of his party in the Assembly, because he measured the power of their opinions by the talent with which they expressed them.

The queen did not feel a similar confidence.

"Take courage, madame," wrote Barnave; "it is true our banner is torn, but the word _Constitution_ is still legible thereon.

This word will recover all its pristine force and _prestige_, if the king will rally to it sincerely.