The14thofJulyhadbrokenuponPariswithitsfearfulevents。Therevolutionhadforthefirsttimeopenedthecrater，aftersubterraneanthunderhadlongbeenheard，andafterthegroundofParishadlongbeenshaken。Theglowinglava-streamsofintenseexcitement，popularrisings，andmurder，hadbrokenoutandfloodedallParis，andbeforethemjudgment，discretion，andtrutheven，hadtakenflight。
ThepeoplehadstormedtheBastilewitharms，killedthegovernor，andforthefirsttimethedreadfulcry“Tothelamp-post!“washeardinthestreetsofParis；forthefirsttimetheironarmsofthelamp-postshadbeentransformedtogallows，onwhichthoseweresuspendedwhomthepeoplehaddeclaredguilty。
Meanwhilethelava-streamsofrevolutionhadnotyetflowedoutasfarasVersailles。
Ontheeveningofthe14thofJuly，peaceandsilencehadsettledearlyuponthepalace，afterawholedayspentintheapartmentsofthekingandqueenwiththegreatestanxiety，andafterresolutionhadfollowedresolutionintheeffortstocometoadecision。
MarieAntoinettehadearlywithdrawntoherrooms。Theking，too，hadretiredtorest，andhadalreadyfallenintoadeepslumberuponhisbed。Hehadonlysleptafewhours，however，whenheheardsomethingmovingnearhisbed，withtheevidentintentionofawakeninghim。Thekingrecognizedhisvalet，who，withsignsofthegreatestalarminhisface，announcedtheDukedeLiancourt，grandmaitredelagarde-robeofhismajesty，whowasintheantechamber，andwhopressinglyurgedanimmediateaudiencewiththeking。Louistrembledaninstant，andtriedtothinkwhattodo。Thenherosefromhisbedwithaquickandenergeticmotion，andorderedthevalettodresshimatonce。Afterthishadbeendonewiththeutmostrapidity，thekingorderedthattheDukedeLiancourtshouldbesummonedtotheadjacentapartment，whenhewouldreceivehim。