against the throne, superstition, prejudices, and the aristocracy?  Where would you be, where this tribune, were it not for these gentlemen?  They are your masters; and you insult those who gain you the voices of the people.  You assail Condorcet, as though his life had not been a series of sacrifices!  A philosopher, he became a politician; academician, he became a newspaper writer; a courtier, he became one of the people; noble, he became a Jacobin!  Beware! you are following the concealed impulses of the court.  Ah, I will not imitate my adversaries, I would not repeat those rumours which assert they are paid by the civil list.” (There was a report that Robespierre had been gained over to oppose the war.) “I shall not say a word of a secret committee which they frequent, and in which are concerted the means of influencing this society; but I will say that they follow in the track of the promoters of civil war.  I will say, that without meaning it, they do more harm to the patriots than the court.  And at what moment do they throw division amongst us?  At the moment when we have a foreign war, and when an intestine war threatens us.  Let us put an end to these disputes, and let us go to the order of the day, leaving our contempt for odious and injurious denunciations.”

XX.

At this, Robespierre and Guadet, equally provoked, wished to enter the tribune.  “It is forty-eight hours,” said Guadet, “that the desire of justifying myself has weighed upon my heart; it is only a few minutes that this want has affected Robespierre.  I request to be heard.”  Leave was accorded, and he briefly exculpated himself.  “Be especially on your guard,” he said, as he concluded, and pointed to Robespierre, “against empirical orators, who have incessantly in their mouths the words of liberty, tyranny, conspiracy—­always mixing up their own praises with the deceit they impose upon the people.  Do justice to such men!” “Order!” cried Freron, Robespierre’s friend; “this is insult and sarcasm.”  The tribune resounded with applause and hooting.  The chamber itself was divided into two camps, separated by a wide space.  Harsh names were exchanged, threatening gesticulations used, and hats were raised and shaken about on the tops of canes.  “I am called a wretch,” (scelerat) continued Guadet, “and yet I am not allowed to denounce a man who invariably thrusts his personal pride in advance of the public welfare.  A man who, incessantly talking of patriotism, abandons the post to which he was called!  Yes, I denounce to you a man who, either from ambition or misfortune, has become the idol of the people!” Here the tumult reached its height, and drowned the voice of Guadet.