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populace had deserted the man of blood。
Once only a fierce； brawny Jacobin sprang up from the table at
which he sat； drinking deep； and； approaching the stranger； said；
〃I seize thee； in the name of the Republic。〃
〃Citizen Aristides；〃 answered the stranger； in a whisper； 〃go to
the lodgings of Robespierre；he is from home； and in the left
pocket of the vest which he cast off not an hour since thou wilt
find a paper； when thou hast read that； return。 I will await
thee； and if thou wouldst then seize me； I will go without a
struggle。 Look round on those lowering brows； touch me NOW； and
thou wilt be torn to pieces。〃
The Jacobin felt as if compelled to obey against his will。 He
went forth muttering； he returned；the stranger was still there。
〃Mille tonnerres；〃 he said to him； 〃I thank thee； the poltroon
had my name in his list for the guillotine。〃
With that the Jacobin Aristides sprang upon the table and
shouted； 〃Death to the Tyrant！〃
CHAPTER 7。XI。
Le lendemain； 8 Thermidor； Robespierre se decida a prononcer son
fameux discours。
Thiers； 〃Hist。 de la Revolution。〃
（The next day； 8th Thermidor； Robespierre resolved to deliver his
celebrated discourse。）
The morning rose；the 8th of Thermidor （July 26）。 Robespierre
has gone to the Convention。 He has gone with his laboured
speech； he has gone with his phrases of philanthropy and virtue；
he has gone to single out his prey。 All his agents are prepared
for his reception； the fierce St。 Just has arrived from the
armies to second his courage and inflame his wrath。 His ominous
apparition prepares the audience for the crisis。 〃Citizens！〃
screeched the shrill voice of Robespierre 〃others have placed
before you flattering pictures； I come to announce to you useful
truths。
。。。
And they attribute to me；to me alone！whatever of harsh or
evil is committed： it is Robespierre who wishes it； it is
Robespierre who ordains it。 Is there a new tax？it is
Robespierre who ruins you。 They call me tyrant！and why？
Because I have acquired some influence； but how？in speaking
truth； and who pretends that truth is to be without force in the
mouths of the Representatives of the French people？ Doubtless；
truth has its power； its rage； its despotism； its accents；
touching； terrible； which resound in the pure heart as in the
guilty conscience； and which Falsehood can no more imitate than
Salmoneus could forge the thunderbolts of Heaven。 What am I whom
they accuse？ A slave of liberty；a living martyr of the
Republic； the victim as the enemy of crime！ All ruffianism
affronts me； and actions legitimate in others are crimes in me。
It is enough to know me to be calumniated。 It is in my very zeal
that they discover my guilt。 Take from me my conscience； and I
should be the most miserable of men！〃
He paused； and Couthon wiped his eyes； and St。 Just murmured
applause as with stern looks he gazed on the rebellious Mountain；
and there was a dead； mournful； and chilling silence through the
audience。 The touching sentiment woke no echo。
The orator cast his eyes around。 Ho！ he will soon arouse that
apathy。 He proceeds； he praises； he pities himself no more。 He
denounces；he accuses。 Overflooded with his venom； he vomits it
forth on all。 At home； abroad； finances； war；on all！ Shriller
and sharper rose his voice；
〃A conspiracy exists against the public liberty。 It owes its
strength to a criminal coalition in the very bosom of the
Convention； it has accomplices in the bosom of the Committee of
Public Safety。。。What is the remedy to this evil？ To punish the
traitors； to purify this committee； to crush all factions by the
weight of the National Authority； to raise upon their ruins the
power of Liberty and Justice。 Such are the principles of that
Reform。 Must I be ambitious to profess them？then the
principles are proscribed； and Tyranny reigns amongst us！ For
what can you object to a man who is in the right； and has at
least this knowledge；he knows how to die for his native land！
I am made to combat crime； and not to govern it。 The time； alas！
is not yet arrived when men of worth can serve with impunity
their country。 So long as the knaves rule； the defenders of
liberty will be only the proscribed。〃
For two hours； through that cold and gloomy audience； shrilled
the Death…speech。 In silence it began； in silence closed。 The
enemies of the orator were afraid to express resentment； they
knew not yet the exact balance of power。 His partisans were
afraid to approve； they knew not whom of their own friends and
relations the accusations were designed to single forth。 〃Take
care！〃 whispered each to each； 〃it is thou whom he threatens。〃
But silent though the audience； it was； at the first； wellnigh
subdued。 There was still about this terrible man the spell of an
overmastering will。 Alwaysthough not what is called a great
oratorresolute； and sovereign in the use of words； words seemed
as things when uttered by one who with a nod moved the troops of
Henriot； and influenced the judgment of Rene Dumas； grim
President of the Tribunal。 Lecointre of Versailles rose； and
there was an anxious movement of attention； for Lecointre was one
of the fiercest foes of the tyrant。 What was the dismay of the
Tallien faction； what the complacent smile of Couthon；when
Lecointre demanded only that the oration should be printed！ All
seemed paralyzed。 At length Bourdon de l'Oise； whose name was
doubly marked in the black list of the Dictator； stalked to the
tribune； and moved the bold counter…resolution； that the speech
should be referred to the two committees whom that very speech
accused。 Still no applause from the conspirators； they sat
torpid as frozen men。 The shrinking Barrere； ever on the prudent
side； looked round before he rose。 He rises； and sides with
Lecointre！ Then Couthon seized the occasion； and from his seat
（a privilege permitted only to the paralytic philanthropist） （M。
Thiers in his History； volume iv。 page 79； makes a curious
blunder： he says； 〃Couthon s'elance a la tribune。' （Couthon
darted towards the tribune。） Poor Couthon！ whose half body was
dead； and who was always wheeled in his chair into the
Convention； and spoke sitting。）； and with his melodious voice
sought to convert the crisis into a triumph。
He demanded； not only that the harangue should be printed； but
sent to all the communes and all the armies。 It was necessary to
soothe a wronged and ulcerated heart。 Deputies； the most
faithful； had been accused of shedding blood。 〃Ah！ if HE had
contributed to the death of one innocent man； he should immolate
himself with grief。〃 Beautiful tenderness！and while he spoke；
he fondled the spaniel in his bosom。 Bravo； Couthon！
Robespierre triumphs！ The reign of Terror shall endure！ The old
submission settles dovelike back in the assembly！ They vote the
printing of the Death…speech； and its transmission