"No, your return to-night to the fortress would only set all the tongues of Paris in motion to-morrow. You must be seen in public to-night, at the opera, the theatre, or where you will. You must figure as an Englishman travelling at his pleasure and his leisure--_a Milor_." "Madame Roland gives a soiree to-night," humbly interposed the Jew. "Ha!--that is the best of all. You must go there. You will be seen by all the world. Elnathan will introduce you to the 'philosophic lady' of the circle." He then resumed his pacing round the room. I could observe the vulpine expression of his visage, the twitching of his hands, the keen sidelong look of a man living in perpetual alarm. We prepared to take our leave; but he now suddenly resumed the _petit-maitre_, flourished his perfumed handkerchief again, gave a passing smile at the mirror, and offered me the honours of his snuff-box with the affectation of the stage. But, as we reached the door of the apartment, he made a long, single stride, which brought him up close to me. "Remember, sir," said he, in a stern voice, wholly unlike the past--"You have it in charge from me to inform the government of your country of the actual feeling of France. It is true that there are madmen among us--Brissotins, Girondists, and other enthusiasts--who talk of war. I tell you that they _are_ madmen, and that _I_ will have no war.--There may be conspirators, who think to shake the existing _regime_ of the republic, and look to war as the means of raising themselves on its ruins.--_I_ tell you, and you may tell your cabinet, that they will not accomplish their objects here; and that, if they accomplish them, it will be the fault and the folly alone of England. Impress those truths on the minds of your countrymen: the Republic desires no war; her principle is peace, her purpose is peace, her prosperity is peace. There will be, there shall be, there _can_ be, no war." He folded his arms, and stood like a pillar till we withdrew. I happened to ascertain shortly afterwards, that on this very day Robespierre had presided at a council which has sent off orders to Dumourier to open the Scheldt, the notorious and direct preliminary to war with England. Such is the sincerity of diplomacy!