He
would absolutely accompany me to the carriage which waited at the
watering place. We crossed the garden without uttering a single
word. I had a key of the park with which I opened the gate, and
instead of putting it again into my pocket, I held it out to the
marechal without saying a word. He took it with a vivacity which
surprised me, and which has since frequently intruded itself upon my
thoughts. I have not in my whole life had a more bitter moment than
that of this separation. Our embrace was long and silent: we both felt
that this was our last adieu.
Between La Barre and Montmorency I met, in a hired carriage, four
men in black, who saluted me smiling. According to what Theresa has
since told me of the officers of justice, the hour of their arrival
and their manner of behavior, I have no doubt, that they were the
persons I met, especially as the order to arrest me, instead of
being made out at seven o'clock, as I had been told it would, had
not been given till noon. I had to go through Paris. A person in a
cabriolet is not much concealed. I saw several persons in the
streets who saluted me with an air of familiarity, but I did not
know one of them. The same evening I changed my route to pass
Villeroy. At Lyons the couriers were conducted to the commandant. This
might have been embarrassing to a man unwilling either to lie or
change his name. I went with a letter from Madam de Luxembourg to
beg M. de Villeroy would spare me this disagreeable ceremony.
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