Zanoni — Edward Bulwer-Lytton

plead against us. Their complaints demoralize the guillotine! ” “Couthon is right,” said Payan; “my list contains those whom it will be safer to despatch en masse in the crowd assembled at the Féte. His list selects those whom we may prudently consign to the law. Shall it not be signed at once?” “Tt is signed,” said Robespierre, formally replacing his pen upon the inkstand. “Now to more important matters. These deaths will create no excitement; but Collot d’Herbois, Bourdon De l’Oise, Tallien,” the last name Robespierre gasped as he pronounced, “ they are the heads of parties. This is life or death to us as well as them.” “Their heads are the footstools to your curule chair,” said Payan, in a half whisper. “There is no danger if we are bold. Judges, juries, all have been your selection, You seize with one hand the army, with the other, the law. Your voice yet commands the people —” “The poor and virtuous people,” murmured Robespierre. “ And even,” continued Payan, “if our design at the Féte fail us, we must not shrink from the resources still at our command. Reflect! Henriot, the general of the Parisian army, furnishes you with troops to arrest; the Jacobin Club with a public to approve; inexorable Dumas with judges who never acquit. We must be bold! ” “ And we are bold,” exclaimed Robespierre, with sudden passion, and striking his hand on the table as he rose, with his crest erect, as a serpent in the act to strike. “In seeing the multitude of vices that the revolutionary torrent mingles with civic virtues, I trem:

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ble to be sullied in the eyes of posterity by the impure neighborhood of these perverse men who thrust themselves among the sincere defenders of humanity. What! —they think to divide the country like a booty! I thank them for their hatred to all that is virtuous and worthy! These men,” —and he grasped the list of Payan in his hand, — “ these ! — not we — have drawn the line of demarcation between themselves and the lovers of France! ” “True, we must reign alone! ” muttered Payan; “in other words, the state needs unity of will; ” working, with his strong practical mind, the corollary from the logic of his word-compelling colleague. “T will go to the Convention,” continued Robespierre. “T have absented myself too long, — lest I might seem to overawe the Republic that I have created. Away with such scruples! I will prepare the people! I will blast the traitors with a look!” He spoke with the terrible firmness of the orator that had never failed, — of the moral will that marched like a warrior on the cannon. At that instant he was interrupted; a letter was brought to him: he opened it, — his face fell, he shook from limb to limb; it was one of the anonymous warnings by which the hate and revenge of those yet left alive to threaten tortured the death-giver.

“You are smeared,” ran the lines, “ with the best blood of France. Read your sentence! I await the hour when the people shall knell you to the doomsman. If my hope deceive me, if deferred too long, — hearken, read! This hand, which your eyes shall search in vain to discover, shall pierce your heart. I see you every day,—I am with you every day. At each hour my arm rises against your breast. Wretch! live yet awhile, 27

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though but for few and miserable days — live to think of me; sleep to dream of me! ‘Your terror and your thought of me are the heralds of your doom. Adieu! this day itself I go forth to riot on your fears! ”?} “Your lists are not full enough!” said the tyrant, with a hollow voice, as the paper dropped from his trembling hand. “Give them to me! —give them to me! Think again, think again! Barrére is right — right! ‘Frappons! il n’y a que les morts qui ne revient pas! 2”

1 See “ Papiers inédits trouvés chez Robespierre,” etc., vol. ii. p. 155. (No. lx.)

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CHAPTER II.

La haine, dans ces lieux, n’a qu’un glaive assassin. Elle marche dans l’ombre. La Harps, Jeanne de Naples, Act iv. se. 1.