Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-01-10

gagged at my shop, a man on horseback
J stopped at my door and called to me by
, name. The disguise of this man, dressed
as he was like waggoner, did not prevent
me from recognizing Durey, whom the
/ King had taken as an assistant at the forge
M. Gamain,' quoth he, his Majesty sends
me to demand your presence at the chateau
Enter by the kitchens, so as not to excite
suspicious? I'm sorry to say can't go,
Dureyp replied l. If were to leave
p Versailles it would at once render me sus-
pected, and draw down misfortune upon
my head' .lI ..,N t....
"Durey tried in vain to persuade me that
it was my duty to obey the King. laugh-
ed at his remonstrances, and said that his
Majesty knew the locksmith's trade well
enough not to need my help or that of any
man. had a presentiment of misfortune.
DureY departed much yexed at the ill-suc-
cess of his mission. Three hours later he
returned to entreat me to fulfill the Kings
pleasure. He said nothing about orders,
but his change of tone failed to seduce me.
l still obstinately refused.
81 now believed myself delivered from
the opportunities of Durey, and congratu-
lated myself on having resisted, when the
news reached Versailles that the mob were
attacking the Tuileries thatvery evening"
~ IllsJdh6H TuI0OT, lOT JnlS nOG Jake
place till the following month.
''On the morrow | was astonished and
annoyed TO see Durey reappear, this time
with an autograph letter from the King,
urging me in an amicable tone to come and
help him in troublesome piece of work
on which he was engaged. My pride was
flattered at this special invitation. Idress-
ed hastily; | kissed my wife and children,
without telling them wither | was going
simply promised that would be back by
nightfall. Durey conducted me to the
Tuileries, where the King was guarded as
il he were in prison. We entered by the
private way, and betOOk ourselves to the
Kings Workshop where Durey left me to an
nounce my arrival. Whilst / was alone |
remarked an iron door lately forged;
'benarde lock. very skilfully executed; and
little iron casket, with a secret spring.
which could not make out at first sight.
Presently Durey returned with the King.
iAh, my Poor Gamain,' said Louis XVI,
'ouehing my shoulder and smiling benevo-
entity; we have not met for long while.'
Yes, SIRE replied, Il am sorry for it; but
ut OF prudence towards yourself as well
3 me have been obliged to suspend my
'isits which were misunderstood. That's
he reason, sire, why did not obey your
rders.' Alas the times are very bad,
nd how things will end know not |! ex-
laimed the King; and then he added in a
heerful tone, whilst pointing out to me the
Ietal work which | had examined, What
ny you to my handiwork? L did this all
nyself in less than ten days. l am your
pprentice, Gamainp l thanked the King
or the compliment, and asked him what l
'ould do for him, with great protestations
of devotion and fidelity. Then the King
goi1 ha q ltuou nod bo1 -,
me, and that he had no hesitation in put
ting into my hands the fate of himself and
his family. ThereupOn he conducted me
into his bedroom, and thence into the
gloomy passage which connects it with the
Dauphin's room. Durey had lighted can
die; and he raised, by the Kings command,
panel of the woodwork, behind which |
perceived cavity made in the wall,
scarcely two feet wide at the opening.
The King told me that he had made this
secret place in which to hide his money,
and that Durey, who had helped him to
break away the wall, had thrown the rub
bish into the river at intervals during the
night. The King then told me that he
wished to fasten the iron door into the
opening, and that he did not know how
this was to be effected. This was what he
required of me. | set to work at once.
not act perfectly. made the key at the
forge in such a manner that it should |
NOT resemble other keys. Then fixed the |
hinges by rivets into the masonry as firmly |
as possible without making too much noise. |
The King assisted me to the best of his |
powers. Every moment he was begging |
me to hammer more softly or to be more |
he was afraid of being sur |
prised by some prying person whilst en-
gagged upon the work, which lasted all day. |
The key was put in the little iron casket, |
and this casket was concealed under slab |
at the end of the corridor. There was no |
necessity for key to fasten the cabinet,
for the bolts and rollers acted of themselves
when the iron door was moved on its
hinges.
II had been at work for eight hours
without cessation-perspiratio rolled from
my forehead in large drops-I was impa.
tient for rest; and | felt exhaustion from
hunger for l had not touched morsel of
any sort since had risen. sat down for
q minute in the Kings chamber, and he
himself brought me chair, apologizing
for the trouble which he had given me. He
chen asked me to help him in counting two
millions of double Louis, which we were to
put into four leather sacks.
"Whilst l, out of complaisance, did this
which was not in the line of my
trade one whit, saw Durey conveying
bundles of papers to the secret cabinet, and
guessed at once that the money was only
a pretext for drawing off my attention. /
am positive that the papers alone were
hidden there. The King proposed that L
should sup at the chateau before | lett, but
refused with feeling of pride, lest |
should be sent to eat with Wallets; besides, ]
was anxious to return to my wife and
l did not either accept the offer
Of some one to accompany me to Versailles.
did not care to be seen in company with
one in the Kings livery, and mistrusted
Durey. Why did they dissemble from me
the true use of the iron chest?" l II
"Just as was on the point of withdraw
ing, the Queen entered suddenly by a
masked door which was at the foot of the
Kings bed. She had in her hand a plate
with brioche' cake on it, and glass of
vine. She stepped up to me as l saluted
her with astonishment, for Louis XVI had
assured me that the Queen knew nothing
If the fabrication of the cabinet. my dear
jamain, said she, in a caressing tone, you
eem hot my friend; drink the glass of
vine, and eat this cake; that will support
'ou during your walk thanked her,
luite overwhelmed at this consideration
or poor workman like me, and emptied
he glass to her health. She let me put on
ny cravat and coat, which had laid aside
n order that l might work more at my
ase.
"The cake remained on the plate, which
he Queen had laid on one OF the tables:
nd 1 slipped it into my pocket, as the
King took leave of me, intending to bring
{ home to my children. r-3 ID tIl 7
81 left the Tuileries as night set in. IL
vas about eight o'clock. l was in such
taste to arrive at Versailles, and to embrace
ny wife and children; / was so anxious to