This last piece of news exasperated Robespierre beyond measure. What! His colleagues of the Committee dared to take such an important step in his absence? And that, too, the very day after he had been publicly insulted! In truth, the moment was well chosen to show themselves ashamed of the scaffold! And as Robespierre questioned Duplay on the number of prisoners condemned during the day, he was astonished to learn that there were only fifteen. Had the Tribunal then been won over by the Conspiracy of the Lenient? However, the carpenter assured him that it was simply a coincidence, for he had heard Fouquier-Tinville, the Public Prosecutor, remark at the conclusion of the sitting that if things continued at this rate there would never be an end of it. There were, it appeared, at that moment seven thousand prisoners under lock and key. "Fouquier-Tinville is right," said Robespierre; "things move too slowly." "But how can they go quicker?" asked Duplay, who regarded his juryman's duties as sacred. "Have patience! I have my plans." "May we hear them?" "You shall know to-morrow. I must first of all make an example of that young fanatic, with whom it is time to deal." And turning to Didier he asked-- "Where is he?" "A few steps from here, at the police station of the Rue Saint-Florentin, where Héron has locked him up, pending your orders." "Very well! Bid Héron bring him here; I wish to examine him instantly." The peremptory tone admitted no reply. Didier, wishing the company good-night, left the room with Simon Duplay, whom the Incorruptible had charged with several messages, and Cornélie, taking advantage of their departure, called Robespierre to the harpsichord. "And now, I hope you will take a little notice of us," she said, coming towards him in half petulant, half coquettish mood. Robespierre, softening at her approach, kissed her hand. Only let him have the time to answer a letter from his friend Saint-Just, and he would be entirely at her disposal. And he seated himself at the round table to write. Only Buonarotti played now. Lebas had laid down his violin, and whilst filling his pipe asked Robespierre for news of the Army of the North, where Saint-Just then was. All was going well there. Robespierre had also good news from his brother Augustin, then at Lyons, and on the point of returning. Augustin warmly recommended to him a young general of the artillery whom he had known at Nice, and who had already distinguished himself at Toulon. "Augustin tells me that this young man could replace, to some advantage, that drunkard Hauriot as commander of the armed force of Paris." Buonarotti, who was still at the harpischord, turned at the mention of Toulon. "Bonaparte?" he said. Robespierre looked across. He knew him, then? Yes, he knew him. They had lived together in Corsica. And as the Incorruptible asked what were the sentiments of the young soldier, he replied-- "Excellent. He is Republican to the core."