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the streaming gore； and the bones crashing in the open jaws of the
insatiable monster which he has fashioned and on which he rides。＇140＇
These ever open and hungry jaws must be daily fed with an ampler
supply of human flesh； not only is he bound to let it eat； but to
furnish the food； often with his own hands； except that he must
afterwards wash them； declaring； and even believing； that no spot of
blood has ever soiled them。 He is generally content to caress and
flatter the brute； to excuse it； to let it go on。 Nevertheless； more
than once； tempted by the opportunity； he has launched it against his
designated victim。＇141＇ He is now himself starting off in quest of
living prey； he casts the net of his rhetoric＇142＇ around it； he
fetches it bound to the open jaws； he thrusts aside with an
uncompromising air the arms of friends； wives and mothers； the
outstretched hands of suppliants begging for lives；＇143＇ he suddenly
throttles the struggling victims＇144＇ and； for fear that they might
escape； he strangles them in time。 Near the end； this is no longer
enough； the brute must have grander quarries； and； accordingly； a pack
of hounds； beaters…up； and； willingly or not； it is Robespierre who
equips； directs and urges them on； at Orange； at Paris；＇145＇ ordering
them to empty the prison's； and be expeditious in doing their work。 …
In this profession of slaughtering； destructive instincts； long
repressed by civilization； become aroused。 His feline physiognomy； at
first 〃that of a domestic cat； restless but mild； changes into the
savage appearance of the wildcat； and close to the ferocious exterior
of the tiger。 In the Constituent Assembly he speaks with a whine； in
the Convention he froths at the mouth。〃＇146＇ The monotonous drone of
a stiff sub…professor changes into the personal accent of furious
passion； he hisses and grinds his teeth；＇147＇ Sometimes； on a change
of scene； he affects to shed tears。＇148＇ But his wildest outbursts
are less alarming than his affected sensibility。 The festering
grudges； corrosive envies and bitter scheming which have accumulated
in his breast are astonishing。 The gall bladder is full； and the
extravasated gall overflows on the dead。 He never tires of re…
executing his guillotined adversaries； the Girondists； Chaumette；
Hébert and especially Danton；＇149＇ probably because Danton was the
active agent in the Revolution of which he was simply the incapable
pedagogue； he vents his posthumous hatred on this still warm corpse in
artful insinuations and obvious misrepresentations。 Thus； inwardly
corroded by the venom it distills； his physical machine gets out of
order； like that of Marat； but with other symptoms。 When speaking in
the tribune 〃his hands crisp with a sort of nervous contraction；〃
sudden tremors agitate 〃his shoulders and neck； shaking him
convulsively to and fro。〃＇150＇ 〃His bilious complexion becomes livid；〃
his eyelids quiver under his spectacles； and how he looks！ 〃Ah；〃 said
a Montagnard； 〃you would have voted as we did on the 9th of Thermidor；
had you seen his green eyeballs ！〃 〃Physically as well as morally；〃 he
becomes a second Marat； suffering all the more because his delirium is
not steady； and because his policy； being a moral one； forces him to
exterminate on a grander scale。
But he is a discreet Marat； of a timid temperament； anxious；＇151＇
keeping his thoughts to himself； made for a school…master or a
pleader； but not for taking the lead or for governing； always acting
hesitatingly； and ambitious to be rather the pope； than the dictator
of the Revolution。＇152＇ Above all； he wants to remain a political
Grandison＇153＇； until the very end； he keeps his mask； not only in
public but also to himself and in his inmost conscience。 The mask；
indeed； has adhered to his skin； he can no longer distinguish one from
the other； never did an impostor more carefully conceal intentions and
acts under sophisms； and persuade himself that the mask was his face；
and that in telling a lie； he told the truth。
Taking his word for it； he had nothing to do with the September
events。＇154＇ 〃Previous to these events； he had ceased to attend the
General Council of the Commune。 。 。 He no longer went there。〃 He
was not charged with any duty； he had no influence there； he had not
provoked the arrest and murder of the Girondists。＇155＇ All he did was
to 〃speak frankly concerning certain members of the Committee of
Twenty…one；〃 as 〃a magistrate〃 and 〃one of a municipal assembly。〃
Should he not〃 explain himself freely on the authors of a dangerous
plot？〃 Besides； the Commune 〃far from provoking the 2nd of September
did all in its power to prevent it。〃 After all； only one innocent
person perished； 〃which is undoubtedly one too many。 Citizens； mourn
over this cruel mistake； we too have long mourned over it！ But； as all
things human come to an end； let your tears cease to flow。〃 When the
sovereign people resumes its delegated power and exercises its
inalienable rights； we have only to bow our heads。 … Moreover； it is
just； wise and good 〃in all that it undertakes； all is virtue and
truth； nothing can be excess； error or crime。〃＇156＇ It must intervene
when its true representatives are hampered by the law 〃let it assemble
in its sections and compel the arrest of faithless deputies。〃＇157＇
What is more legal than such a motion； which is the only part
Robespierre took on the 31st of May。 He is too scrupulous to commit
or prescribe an illegal act。 That will do for the Dantons； the
Marats； men of relaxed morals or excited brains； who if need be； tramp
in the gutters and roll up their shirt…sleeves； as to himself； he can
do nothing that would ostensibly derange or soil the dress proper to
an honest man and irreproachable citizen。 In the Committee of Public
Safety； he merely executes the decrees of the Convention； and the
Convention is always free。 He a dictator！ He is merely one of seven
hundred deputies； and his authority； if he has any； is simply the
legitimate ascendancy of reason and virtue。＇158＇ He a murderer！ If he
has denounced conspirators； it is the Convention which summons these
before the revolutionary Tribunal；＇159＇ and the revolutionary Tribunal
pronounces judgment on them。 He a terrorist！ He merely seeks to
simplify the established proceedings； so as to secure a speedier
release of the innocent； the punishment of the guilty； and the final
purgation that is to render liberty and morals the order of the
day。＇160＇ … Before uttering all this he almost believes it； and； when
he has uttered it he believes it fully。＇161＇ When nature and history
combine； to produce a character； they succeed better than man's
imagination。 Neither Molière in his 〃Tartuffe；〃 nor Shakespeare in
his 〃 Richard III。；〃 dared bring on the stage a hypocrite believing
himself sincere； and a Cain that regarded himself as an Abel。＇162＇
There he stands on a colossal stage； in the presence of a hundred
thousand spectators