"Against you! hypocrite and scoundrel!" Olivier cried; "against you, who dare speak of justice and humanity on this spot soaked with the blood you have spilled!" A horrified scream rose from the crowd, but was as soon hushed at a sign from Robespierre. Olivier tried to throw himself on him, but was held back by the police. "Look at the soles of your shoes, you butcher!" he cried desperately. "They are red with blood!" He was not allowed to continue. The Incorruptible motioned the agents to remove him out of reach of the furious and exasperated crowd, who continued to cry out-- "To death with him! To death!" Olivier turned in the grasp of his gaolers and cried-- "You can kill me, murder me, ruffians! but I have cried out, as others will cry out after me, 'Down with the scaffold!'" His words were lost in the tumult. Robespierre reascended the steps of the statue, and tried to calm the people. "Citizens!" he said, "let us give ourselves up to the joys of this _fête_, which the insults and outrages of a rebel shall not disturb! To-morrow the sword of Justice will strike with renewed ardour the enemies of our country!" Loud plaudits followed, and cries of "Long live the Republic! Long live Robespierre! Long live the Incorruptible!" "Down with the scaffold!" cried a faint voice in the distance. It was Olivier, whom the police, aided by the National Guards, were carrying away in chains. CHAPTER VIII AN EVENING AT THE DUPLAYS' Robespierre slowly descended the altar steps with a preoccupied air, for that last desperate cry of Olivier had struck its mark. However self-possessed he might be, he had felt the blow acutely. That voice, full of hatred and revenge, had risen from the crowd he thought entirely at one with him! In their very applause at that moment the people were protesting against an insult coming from their ranks! They were driven to defend him, when he had dreamt that the populace would receive him with instant and unanimous enthusiasm, insuring to him for ever the esteem of France!