Robespierre looked at him closely. "Does General Hoche take you into his entire confidence?" he inquired quickly; his weak eyes blinking more rapidly than ever. "No, I am merely a colonel in his army. Though I have good reason to believe he places confidence in me, he naturally does not inform me of his plans before they are matured." "Citizen colonel, the committee also places great confidence in you, and for that reason it wishes you to return at once to the army." "I obey its orders with the greatest pleasure in the world," said Tournay. "The committee also desires," Robespierre continued, "that you send to its secretary each week a minute report of everything that passes under your notice, particularly as regards the actions of Citizen General Hoche. Do not regard anything as too trifling to be included in your report; the committee will pass upon its importance." Tournay had listened in silence. His teeth ground together in the rage he struggled to suppress. He felt that if he made a movement it would be to strike the president to the floor. "I must decline the commission with which the committee honors me. I am not fitted for it," he replied. "The committee has chosen you as eminently fitted for the work. The confidence that General Hoche places in you makes you the best agent the committee could employ." "Then tell your committee, citizen president, that it must find some less fitting agent to do its dirty work. My business is to fight the enemies of France, not to spy upon its patriots." Robespierre's sallow face became a shade more yellow. "Have a care how you speak of the committee. In the service of the Republic all employment is sacred and honorable." "I prefer my own interpretation of the words," answered Tournay, with a look of scorn. "And yet you yourself have somewhat strange ideas of what is honorable," remarked Robespierre sneeringly. "I do not understand what you mean," replied Tournay. Robespierre stepped to the wall and pulled the bell-rope. "Perhaps when it is made clear to you, your mind may change." The colonel made no reply, but the next moment uttered an exclamation of surprise as the Marquis de Lacheville entered the room. Robespierre turned toward Tournay with the shadow of a smile hovering on his thin lips. "You know this citizen?" he asked in his harsh voice. Tournay looked at the marquis curiously, wondering why he had jeopardized his own safety by returning to Paris. The look of hatred which the nobleman shot at him served as an explanation. "I know him as a former nobleman, an emigré, who is proscribed by the Republic; I wonder that he puts his life in danger by returning to the land he fled from." The marquis made an uneasy gesture, and was about to speak when Robespierre said:-- "He has taken the oath of allegiance to the Republic." Tournay laughed outright at this. "And do you trust his oath?" he asked.