vivelareine:  At a quarter past ten the king rose first; they all followed him; I opened the d

vivelareine:

 At a quarter past ten the king rose first; they all followed him; I opened the door; the queen held the king by the right arm; Their Majesties each gave a hand to the dauphin; Madame Royale on the left clasped the king’s body; Madame Élisabeth, on the same side but a little behind the rest, had caught the left arm of her brother. They made a few steps towards the entrance, uttering the most sorrowful moans.

“I assure you,” said the king, “that I will see you to-morrow at eight o'clock.”

“You promise us?” they all cried.

“Yes, I promise it.”

“Why not at seven o'clock?” said the queen.

“Well, then, yes, at seven o'clock,” replied the king.

“Adieu–” He uttered that “adieu” in so expressive a manner that the sobs redoubled.

–the journal of Jean-Baptiste Cléry

[image credit: Bibliothèque nationale de France, département Estampes et photographie]