He then ordered a cask of wine to be broached and distributed among the cebets, and told them to walk about the streets in threes, and to disarm all the dragoons whom they might meet away from their post.

About six o'clock in the evening a red-tuft volunteer presented himself at the gate of the palace, and ordered the porter to sweep the courtyard, saying that the volunteers were going to get up a ball for the dragoons.

After this piece of bravado he went away, and in a few moments a note arrived, couched in the following terms: "The bishop's porter is warned to let no dragoon on horse or on foot enter or leave the palace this evening, on pain of death.
"13th June 1790." This note being brought to the lieutenant, he came out, and reminded the volunteer that nobody but the town authorities could give orders to the servants at the palace.

The volunteer gave an insolent answer, the lieutenant advised him to go away quietly, threatening if he did not to put him out by force.

This altercation attracted a great many of the red-tufts from outside, while the dragoons, hearing the noise, came down into the yard; the quarrel became more lively, stones were thrown, the call to arms was heard, and in a few moments about forty cebets, who were prowling around in the neighbourhood of the palace, rushed into the yard carrying guns and swords.