Dangeau sighed heavily as he destroyed the letter. Surely the strong hand would be able to steer the ship to calmer waters, and yet there was a deep sense of approaching fatality upon him. His fellow-Commissioner was of Robespierre’s party,—a tall man, wonderfully thin, with grizzled hair, and a nose where the bony ridge showed yellow under the tight skin. He had a cold, suspicious eye, light grey, with a green under-tinge, and was, as Dangeau knew beyond a doubt, a spy both on himself and on Dugommier. There came an April day full of heat, and sullen with brooding thunder. Dangeau in his tent, writing his report, found the pen heavy in his hand, and for once was glad of the interruption, when Vibert’s shadow fell across the entrance, and his long form bent to enter at the low door. "Ah, come in," he said, pushing his inkstand away; and Vibert, who had not waited for the invitation, sat down and looked at him curiously for a moment. Then he said: "A courier from Paris came in an hour ago." Dangeau stretched out his hand, but the other held his papers close. "There is news,—weighty news," he continued; and Dangeau felt his courage leap to meet an impending blow. "What news?" he asked, quite quietly, hand still held out. "You are Danton’s friend?" "As you very well know, Citizen." Vibert flung all his papers on the table. "You ’ll be less ready to claim his friendship in the future, I take it," he said, with a sudden twang of steel in his voice. Dangeau turned frightfully pale, but the hand that reached for the letters was controlled. "Your meaning, Citizen?" Vibert’s strident laugh rang out. "Danton was—somebody, and your friend. Danton is—a name and nothing more. Once the knife has fallen there is not a penny to choose between him and any other carrion. A good riddance to France, and all good patriots will say ’Amen’ to that." "Patriots!" muttered Dangeau, and then fell to reading the papers with bent head and eyes resolutely calm. When he looked up no one would have guessed that he was moved, and the sneering look which dwelt upon his face glanced off again. He met Vibert’s eyes full, his own steady with a cold composure, and after a moment or two the thin man shuffled with his feet, and spat noisily. "Well," he said, "Robespierre for my money; but, of course, Danton was backing you, and you stand to lose by his fall." "Ah," said Dangeau softly, "you think so?"