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encountering a single independent group and without the possibility of
forming； in this society broken up by despotism； any centers of
enterprise and resistance； without finding； in this upper class
disarmed by its very humanity； a policy devoid of illusion and capable
of action。 Without which all these good intentions and fine intellects
shall be unable to protect themselves against the two enemies of all
liberty and of all order； against the contagion of the democratic
nightmare which disturbs the ablest heads and against the irruptions
of the popular brutality which perverts the best of laws。 At the
moment of opening the States…General the course of ideas and events is
not only fixed but； again； apparent。 Beforehand and unconsciously；
each generation bears （Page 400/296）within itself its past and its
future； and to this one； long before the end； one might have been able
to foretell its fate； and； if both details as well as the entire
action could have been foreseen； one would readily have accepted the
following fiction made up by a converted Laharpe＇1＇ when； at the end
of the Directory； he arranged his souvenirs：
II。
〃It seems to me；〃 he says； 〃as if it were but yesterday； and yet it
is at the beginning of the year 1788。 We were dining with one of our
fellow members of the Academy； a grand seignior and a man of
intelligence。 The company was numerous and of every profession；
courtiers； advocates； men of letters and academicians； all had feasted
luxuriously according to custom。 At the dessert the wines of Malvoisie
and of Constance contributed to the social gaiety a sort of freedom
not always kept within decorous limits。 At that time society had
reached the point at which everything may be expressed that excites
laughter。 Champfort had read to us his impious and libertine stories；
and great ladies had listened to these without recourse to their fans。
Hence a deluge of witticisms against religion； one quoting a tirade
from 'La Pucelle；' another bringing forward certain philosophical
stanzas by Diderot。 。 。 。 and with unbounded applause。 。 。 。 The
conversation becomes more serious； admiration is expressed at the
revolution accomplished by Voltaire； and all agree in its being the
first title to his fame。 'He gave the tone to his century； finding
readers in the antechambers as well as in the drawing…room。' One of
the guests narrates； bursting with laughter； what a hairdresser said
to him while powdering his hair： 'You see； sir； although I am a
miserable scrub； I have no more religion than any one else。' They
conclude that the Revolution will soon be consummated； that
superstition and fanaticism must wholly give way to philosophy； and
they thus calculate the probabilities of the epoch and those of the
future society which will see the reign of reason。 The most aged
lament not being able to flatter themselves that they will see it； the
young rejoice in a reasonable prospect of seeing it； and especially do
they congratulate the Academy on having paved the way for the great
work； and on having been the headquarters； the center； the inspirer of
freedom of thought。
One of the guests had taken no part in this gay conversation a
person named Cazotte； an amiable and original man； but； unfortunately；
infatuated with the delusions of the visionary。 In the most serious
tone he begins： 'Gentlemen；' says he； 'be content； you will witness
this great revolution that you so much desire。 You know that I am
something of a prophet； and I repeat it； you will witness it。 。 。 。 Do
you know the result of this revolution； for all of you； so long as you
remain here？' … 'Ah！' exclaims Condorcet with his shrewd； simple air
and smile； 'let us see； a philosopher is not sorry to encounter a
prophet。' … 'You； Monsieur de Condorcet； will expire stretched on
the floor of a dungeon； you will die of the poison you take to escape
the executioner； of the poison which the felicity of that era will
compel you always to carry about your person！' … At first； great
astonishment； and then came an outburst of laughter。 'What has all
this in common with philosophy and the reign of reason？' …
'Precisely what I have just remarked to you； in the name of
philosophy； of humanity； of freedom； under the reign of reason； you
will thus reach your end； and； evidently； the reign of reason will
arrive； for there will be temples of reason； and； in those days； in
all France； the temples will be those alone of reason。 。 。 。 You；
Monsieur de Champfort； you will sever your veins with twenty…two
strokes of a razor and yet you will not die for months afterwards。
You； Monsieur Vicq…d'Azir； you will not open your own veins but you
will have them opened six times in one day； in the agonies of gout； so
as to be more certain of success； and you will die that night。 You；
Monsieur de Nicolai； on the scaffold； you； Monsieur Bailly； on the
scaffold； you； Monsieur de Malesherbes； on the scaffold； 。 。 。 you；
Monsieur Roucher； also on the scaffold。' … 'But then we shall have
been overcome by Turks or Tartars？' … 'By no means； you will be
governed； as I have already told you； solely by philosophy and reason。
Those who are to treat you in this manner will all be philosophers；
will all； at every moment； have on their lips the phrases you have
uttered within the hour； will repeat your maxims； will quote； like
yourselves； the stanzas of Diderot and of 〃La Pucelle。〃' … 'And when
will all this happen？' … 'Six years will not pass before what I tell
you will be accomplished。' … 'Well； these are miracles；' exclaims La
Harpe； 'and you leave me out？' … 'You will be no less a miracle； for
you will then be a Christian。' … 'Ah；' interposes Champfort； I
breathe again； if we are to die only when La Harpe becomes a Christian
we are immortals。' … 'As to that； we women；' says the Duchesse de
Gramont； 'are extremely fortunate in being of no consequence in
revolutions。 It is understood that we are not to blame； and our sex 。
。 ' … 'Your sex； ladies； will not protect you this time。 。 。 。 You
will be treated precisely as men； with no difference whatever。 。 。 。
You； Madame la Duchesse； will be led to the scaffold； you and many
ladies besides yourself in a cart with your hands tied behind your
back。' … 'Ah； in that event； I hope to have at least a carriage
covered with black。' … 'No； Madame； greater ladies than yourself
will go； like yourself in a cart and with their hands tied like
yours。' … 'Greater ladies！ What！ Princesses of the blood！' …
'Still greater ladies than those 。 。 。'They began to think the jest
carried too far。 Madame de Gramont； to dispel the gloom； did not
insist on a reply to her last exclamation； contenting herself by
saying in the lightest tone； 'And they will not even leave one a
confessor！' … 'No； Madame； neither you nor any other person will be
allowed a confessor； the last of the condemned that will have one； as