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which is raised； and behind the wooden fence separating the Carrousel
from the palace。 Kept in its position by its orders； merely serving
as a stationary piece of scenery； employed against itself unbeknown to
itself；＇157＇ it can do no more than let the factionists act who serve
as its advanced guard。 Early in the morning the vestibules； stairs
and passages in the hall of the convention have been invaded by the
frequenters of the galleries and the women under pay。 The commandant
of the post； with his officers； have been confined by 〃men with
moustaches；〃 armed with sabers and pistols； the legal guard has been
replaced with an extraordinary guard；＇158＇ and the deputies are
prisoners。 If one of them is obliged to go out for a moment； it is
under the supervision of four fusiliers； 〃who conduct him； wait for
him； and bring him back。〃＇159＇ Others； in trying to look out the
windows； are aimed at； the venerable Dussaulx is struck； and Boissy
d'Anglas； seized by the throat； returns with his cravat and shirt all
in shreds。 For six hours by the clock the Convention is under arrest；
and when the decree is passed； ordering the removal of the armed force
bearing upon it； Henriot replies to the officer who notifies him of
it： 〃Tell your damned president that he and his Assembly may go to
hell。 If he don't surrender the Twenty…two in an hour； I'll send him
there！〃＇160＇
In the hall the majority； abandoned by its recognized guides and its
favorite spokesmen； grows more and more feeble from hour to hour。
Brissot； Pétion； Guadet； Gensonné； Buzot； Salle； Grangeneuve； and
others； two…thirds of the Twenty…two； kept away by their friends；
remain at home。＇161＇ Vergniaud； who had come； remains silent； and
then leaves； the 〃Mountain；〃 probably； gaining by his absence； allows
him to pass out。 Four other Girondists who remain in the Assembly to
the end； Isnard； Dussaulx； Lauthenas； and Fauchet； consent to resign；
when the generals give up their swords； the soldiers soon lay down
their arms。 Lanjuinais； alone； who is not a Girondist； but a Catholic
and Breton； speaks like a man against this outrageous attack on the
nation's representatives They rush at him and assail him in the
tribune； the butcher； Legendre； simulating 〃the cleaver's blow；〃 cries
out to him； 〃Come down or I'll knock you down！ A group of Montagnards
spring forward to help Legendre； and one of them claps a pistol to his
throat；＇162＇ he clings fast to the tribune and strives in vain； for
his party around him are losing courage。 At this moment Barrère；
remarkable for expedients； proposes to the Convention to adjourn； and
hold the session 〃amidst the armed force that will afford it
protection。〃＇163＇ All other things failing； the majority avails itself
of this last straw。 It rises in a body； in spite of the vociferations
in the galleries； descends the great staircase； and proceeds to the
entrance of the Carrousel。 There the Montagnard president； Hérault…
Séchelles； reads the decree of Henriot； which enjoins him to withdraw；
and he officially and correctly summons him in the usual way。 But a
large number of the Montagnards have followed the majority； and are
there to encourage the insurrection； Danton takes Henriot's hand and
tells him； in a low voice； 〃Go ahead； don't be afraid； we want to show
that the Assembly is free； be firm。〃＇164＇ At this the tall bedizened
gawky recovers his assurance； and in his husky voice； he addresses the
president： 〃Hérault； the people have not come here to listen to big
words。 You are a good patriot 。 。 。 Do you promise on your head that
the Twenty…two shall be given up in twenty…four hours？〃 〃No。〃
〃Then； in that case； I am not responsible。 To arms； cannoneers； make
your guns ready！〃 The cannoneers take their lighted matches； 〃the
cavalry draw their sabers； and the infantry aim at the deputies。〃＇165＇
Forced back on this side； the unhappy Convention turns to the left；
passes through the archway； follows the broad avenue through the
garden； and advances to the Pont…Tournant to find an outlet。 There is
no outlet； the bridge is raised； and everywhere the barrier of pikes
and bayonets remains impenetrable； shouts of 〃Vive la Montagne！ vive
Marat！ To the guillotine with Brissot； Vergniaud； Guadet and Gensonné！
Away with bad blood！〃 greet the deputies on all sides； and the
Convention； similar to a flock of sheep； in vain turns round and round
in its pen。 At this moment； to get them back into the fold； Marat；
like a barking dog； runs up as fast as his short legs will allow；
followed by his troop of tatterdemalions； and exclaims： 〃Let all loyal
deputies return to their posts！〃 With bowed heads； they mechanically
return to the hall； it is immediately closed； and they are once more
in confinement。 To assist them in their deliberations a crowd of the
well…disposed entered pell…mell along with them。 To watch them and
hurry on the matter； the sans…culottes； with fixed bayonets；
gesticulate and threaten them from the galleries。 Outside and inside；
necessity； with its iron hand； has seized them and holds them fast。
There is a dead silence。 Couthon； a paralytic； tries to stand up； his
friends carry him in their arms to the tribune； an intimate friend of
Robespierre's； he is a grave and important personage； he sits down；
and in his mild tone of voice； he speaks： 〃Citizens； all members of
the Convention must now be satisfied of their freedom。 。 。 。 You are
now aware that there is no restraint on your deliberations。〃＇166＇
The comedy is at an end。 Even in Molière there is none like it。 The
sentimental cripple in the tribune winds up by demanding that the
Twenty…two； the Twelve； and the Ministers； Clavière and Lebrun be
placed in arrest。 Nobody opposes the motion；＇167＇ 〃because physical
necessities begin to be felt； and an impression of terror pervades the
Assembly。〃 Several say to themselves； 〃Well； after all； those who are
proscribed will be as well off at home； where they will be safe。 。 。 。
It is better to put up with a lesser evil than encounter a greater
one。〃 Another exclaims： 〃It is better not to vote than to betray one's
trust。〃 The salvo being found； all consciences are easy。 Two…thirds of
the Assembly declare that they will no longer take part in the
discussions； hold aloof； and remain in their seats at each calling of
the vote。 With the exception of about fifty members of the 〃Right；〃
who rise on the side of the Girondists； the 〃Mountain；〃 whose forces
are increased by the insurgents and amateurs sitting fraternally in
its midst； alone votes for； and finally passes the decree。 Now that
the Convention has mutilated itself； it is check…mated； and is about
to become a governing machine in the service of a clique； the Jacobin
conquest is completed； and in the hands of the victors； the grand
operations of the guillotine are going to commence。
VIII。 Right or Wrong； my Country。
Character of the new governors。 … Why France accepted them。