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glasses。 Erect in a chair； before a large table spread with
letters； sat the original of bust and canvas； the owner of the
apartment。 He was alone； yet he sat erect； formal； stiff；
precise； as if in his very home he was not at ease。 His dress
was in harmony with his posture and his chamber； it affected a
neatness of its own；foreign both to the sumptuous fashions of
the deposed nobles； and the filthy ruggedness of the sans…
culottes。 Frizzled and coiffe； not a hair was out of order； not
a speck lodged on the sleek surface of the blue coat； not a
wrinkle crumpled the snowy vest； with its under…relief of
delicate pink。 At the first glance； you might have seen in that
face nothing but the ill…favoured features of a sickly
countenance； at a second glance； you would have perceived that it
had a power； a character of its own。 The forehead； though low
and compressed； was not without that appearance of thought and
intelligence which； it may be observed； that breadth between the
eyebrows almost invariably gives； the lips were firm and tightly
drawn together； yet ever and anon they trembled； and writhed
restlessly。 The eyes； sullen and gloomy； were yet piercing； and
full of a concentrated vigour that did not seem supported by the
thin； feeble frame； or the green lividness of the hues； which
told of anxiety and disease。
Such was Maximilien Robespierre； such the chamber over the
menuisier's shop； whence issued the edicts that launched armies
on their career of glory； and ordained an artificial conduit to
carry off the blood that deluged the metropolis of the most
martial people in the globe！ Such was the man who had resigned a
judicial appointment （the early object of his ambition） rather
than violate his philanthropical principles by subscribing to the
death of a single fellow…creature； such was the virgin enemy to
capital punishments； and such； Butcher…Dictator now； was the man
whose pure and rigid manners； whose incorruptible honesty； whose
hatred of the excesses that tempt to love and wine； would； had he
died five years earlier； have left him the model for prudent
fathers and careful citizens to place before their sons。 Such
was the man who seemed to have no vice； till circumstance； that
hotbed； brought forth the two which； in ordinary times； lie ever
the deepest and most latent in a man's heart；Cowardice and
Envy。 To one of these sources is to be traced every murder that
master…fiend committed。 His cowardice was of a peculiar and
strange sort； for it was accompanied with the most unscrupulous
and determined WILL；a will that Napoleon reverenced； a will of
iron； and yet nerves of aspen。 Mentally； he was a hero；
physically； a dastard。 When the veriest shadow of danger
threatened his person； the frame cowered； but the will swept the
danger to the slaughter…house。 So there he sat； bolt upright；
his small； lean fingers clenched convulsively； his sullen eyes
straining into space； their whites yellowed with streaks of
corrupt blood； his ears literally moving to and fro； like the
ignobler animals'； to catch every sound；a Dionysius in his
cave； but his posture decorous and collected； and every formal
hair in its frizzled place。
〃Yes； yes；〃 he said in a muttered tone； 〃I hear them； my good
Jacobins are at their post on the stairs。 Pity they swear so！ I
have a law against oaths；the manners of the poor and virtuous
people must be reformed。 When all is safe； an example or two
amongst those good Jacobins would make effect。 Faithful fellows；
how they love me！ Hum！what an oath was that！they need not
swear so loud；upon the very staircase； too！ It detracts from
my reputation。 Ha！ steps！〃
The soliloquist glanced at the opposite mirror； and took up a
volume； he seemed absorbed in its contents； as a tall fellow； a
bludgeon in his hand； a girdle adorned with pistols round his
waist； opened the door； and announced two visitors。 The one was
a young man； said to resemble Robespierre in person； but of a far
more decided and resolute expression of countenance。 He entered
first； and； looking over the volume in Robespierre's hand； for
the latter seemed still intent on his lecture； exclaimed；
〃What！ Rousseau's Heloise？ A love…tale！〃
〃Dear Payan； it is not the love；it is the philosophy that
charms me。 What noble sentiments！what ardour of virtue！ If
Jean Jacques had but lived to see this day！〃
While the Dictator thus commented on his favourite author； whom
in his orations he laboured hard to imitate； the second visitor
was wheeled into the room in a chair。 This man was also in what；
to most； is the prime of life；namely； about thirty…eight； but
he was literally dead in the lower limbs： crippled； paralytic；
distorted； he was yet； as the time soon came to tell him；a
Hercules in Crime！ But the sweetest of human smiles dwelt upon
his lips； a beauty almost angelic characterised his features
（〃Figure d'ange；〃 says one of his contemporaries； in describing
Couthon。 The address； drawn up most probably by Payan （Thermidor
9）； after the arrest of Robespierre； thus mentions his crippled
colleague： 〃Couthon； ce citoyen vertueux； QUI N'A QUE LE COEUR
ET LA TETE DE VIVANS； mais qui les a brulants de patriotisme〃
（Couthon； that virtuous citizen； who has but the head and the
heart of the living； yet possesses these all on flame with
patriotism。））； an inexpressible aspect of kindness； and the
resignation of suffering but cheerful benignity； stole into the
hearts of those who for the first time beheld him。 With the most
caressing； silver； flute…like voice； Citizen Couthon saluted the
admirer of Jean Jacques。
〃Nay；do not say that it is not the LOVE that attracts thee； it
IS the love！ but not the gross； sensual attachment of man for
woman。 No！ the sublime affection for the whole human race； and
indeed； for all that lives！〃
And Citizen Couthon； bending down； fondled the little spaniel
that he invariably carried in his bosom； even to the Convention；
as a vent for the exuberant sensibilities which overflowed his
affectionate heart。 （This tenderness for some pet animal was by
no means peculiar to Couthon； it seems rather a common fashion
with the gentle butchers of the Revolution。 M。 George Duval
informs us （〃Souvenirs de la Terreur；〃 volume iii page 183） that
Chaumette had an aviary； to which he devoted his harmless
leisure； the murderous Fournier carried on his shoulders a pretty
little squirrel； attached by a silver chain； Panis bestowed the
superfluity of his affections upon two gold pheasants； and Marat；
who would not abate one of the three hundred thousand heads he
demanded； REARED DOVES！ Apropos of the spaniel of Couthon； Duval
gives us an amusing anecdote of Sergent； not one of the least
relentless agents of the massacre of September。 A lady came to
implore his protection for one of her relations confined in the
Abbaye。 He scarcely deigned to speak to her。 As she retired in
despair；