Thekingwasdressed，andthepriestgavehimthesacrament，thevesselsusedhavingbeentakenfromtheneighboringCapuchinchurchofMarais。AnoldchestofdrawerswasconvertedbyCleryintoanaltar，twoordinarycandlesticksstoodoneachsideofthecup，andinthemtwotallowcandlesburned，insteadofwax。BeforethisaltarkneeledKingLouisXVI。，lostinthoughtandprayer，andwearingacalm，peacefulface。
Thepriestreadthemass；Cleryrespondedassacristan；andevenwhilethekingwasreceivingtheelements，thesoundofthedrumsandtrumpetswasheardwithout，whichawakenedParisthatmorningandtoldthecitythattheKingofFrancewasbeingledtohisexecution。Cannonwererattlingthroughthestreets，andNationalGuardsmenwerehurryingonfootandonhorsealongthewholeofthewaythatledfromtheTempletothePlacedelaConcorde。Arankofmen，fourdeepandstandingclosetooneanother，armedwithpikesandotherweapons，guardedbothsidesofthestreet，andmadeitimpossibleforthosewhowantedtoliberatethekingduringtheride，tocomeneartohim。TheauthoritiesknewthatoneofthebravestandmostdeterminedpartisansofthekinghadarrivedinParis，andthathe，inconjunctionwithanumberofyoungandbrave-
spiritedmen，hadresolvedonrescuingthekingatanycost，duringhisridetotheplaceofexecution。Theutmostprecautionshadbeentakentorenderthisimpossible。ThroughthedenseranksoftheNationalGuard，whichto-daywascomposedofmeresans-culottes，theraging，bloodthirstymenofthesuburbsdrovethecarriageinwhichwastheking，followedandescortedbyNationalGuardsmenonhorseback。Thewindowswereallclosedandthecurtainsdrawninthehousesbywhichtheprocessionpassed；butbehindthosecurtainedwindowsitisprobablethatpeoplewereupontheirkneesprayingfortheunhappymanwhowasnowonhiswaytothescaffold，andwhowasonceKingofFrance。
Allatoncetherearoseamovementinthisdreadfulhedgeofarmedmen，throughwhichthecarriagewaspassing。Twoyoungmencried：
“Tous，Frenchmen——tous，allwhowanttosavetheking!“