Though the night was stormy and wet, the rioters sought no shelter except such as was afforded by a hurried resort to the wine-shops in the neighborhood, where they inflamed their intoxication, and from which they soon returned to renew their savage clamor and threats, increasing the disorder by keeping up a frequent fire of their muskets.

Throughout the night the Duc d'Orleans was briskly going to and fro, his emissaries scattering money among the rioters, who seemed to have no definite purpose or plan, till, as day began to break, one of the gates leading into the Princes' Court was seen to be open.

It had been intrusted to some of La Fayette's soldiers, and could not have been opened without treachery.

The crowd poured in, uttering fiercer threats than ever, from the belief that their prey was within their reach.

There was, in truth, nothing between them and the staircase which led to the royal apartments except two gallant gentlemen, M.des Huttes and M.Moreau, the sentries of the detachment of the Body- guard on duty, whose quarters were at the head of the staircase in a saloon opposite to the queen's chamber.