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other's hectoring manner。 〃I have heard that。〃
〃Oh！ And what do you think of it？〃 arms akimbo； the Colossus
towered above him。
Andre…Louis turned aside to Le Chapelier。
〃I don't think I understand。 Have you brought this gentleman here
to examine my conscience？〃
〃Name of a name！ He 's prickly as a … porcupine！〃 Danton protested。
〃No； no。〃 Le Chapelier was conciliatory； seeking to provide an
antidote to the irritant administered by his companion。 〃We require
your help； Andre。 Danton here thinks that you are the very man for
us。 Listen now。。。 〃
〃That's it。 You tell him；〃 Danton agreed。 〃You both talk the same
mincing … sort of French。 He'll probably understand you。〃
Le Chapelier went on without heeding the interruption。 〃This
violation by the King of the obvious rights of a country engaged
in framing a constitution that shall make it free has shattered
every philanthropic illusion we still cherished。 There are those
who go so far as to proclaim the King the vowed enemy of France。
But that； of course； is excessive。
〃Who says so？〃 blazed Danton； and swore horribly by way of
conveying his total disagreement。
Le Chapelier waved him into silence； and proceeded。
〃Anyhow； the matter has been more than enough； added to all the
rest； to set us by the ears again in the Assembly。 It is open
war between the Third Estate and the Privileged。〃
〃Was it ever anything else？〃
〃Perhaps not； but it has assumed a new character。 You'll have
heard of the duel between Lameth and the Duc de Castries？〃
〃A trifling affair。〃
〃In its results。 But it might have been far other。 Mirabeau is
challenged and insulted now at every sitting。 But he goes his
way； cold…bloodedly wise。 Others are not so circumspect； they
meet insult with insult； blow with blow； and blood is being shed
in private duels。 The thing is reduced by these swordsmen of
the nobility to a system。〃
Andre…Louis nodded。 He was thinking of Philippe de Vilmorin。
〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃it is an old trick of theirs。 It is so simple and
direct … like themselves。 I wonder only that they didn't hit upon
this system sooner。 In the early days of the States General； at
Versailles； it might have had a better effect。 Now； it comes a
little late。〃
〃But they mean to make up for lost time … sacred name！〃 cried
Danton。 〃Challenges are flying right and left between these
bully…swordsmen； these spadassinicides； and poor devils of the robe
who have never learnt to fence with anything but a quill。 It's
just murder。 Yet if I were to go amongst messieurs les nobles
and crunch an addled head or two with this stick of mine； snap a
few aristocratic necks between these fingers which the good God has
given me for the purpose； the law would send me to atone upon the
gallows。 This in a land that is striving after liberty。 Why； Dieu
me damne！ I am not even allowed to keep my hat on in the theatre。
But they … these s！〃
〃He is right；〃 said Le Chapelier。 〃The thing has become unendurable；
insufferable。 Two days ago M。 d'Ambly threatened Mirabeau with his
cane before the whole Assembly。 Yesterday M。 de Faussigny leapt up
and harangued his order by inviting murder。 'Why don't we fall on
these scoundrels； sword in hand？' he asked。 Those were his very
words： 'Why don't we fall on these scoundrels； sword in hand。'〃
〃It is so much simpler than lawmaking；〃 said Andre…Louis。
〃Lagron； the deputy from Ancenis in the Loire； said something that
we did not hear in answer。 As he was leaving the Manege one of
these bullies grossly insulted him。 Lagron no more than used his
elbow to push past when the fellow cried out that he had been
struck； and issued his challenge。 They fought this morning early
in the Champs Elysees； and Lagron was killed； run through the
stomach deliberately by a man who fought like a fencing…master；
and poor Lagron did not even own a sword。 He had to borrow one to
go to the assignation。〃
Andre…Louis … his mind ever on Vilmorin； whose case was here
repeated； even to the details … was swept by a gust of passion。
He clenched his hands； and his jaws set。 Danton's little eyes
observed him keenly。
〃Well？ And what do you think of that？ Noblesse oblige； eh？ The
thing is we must oblige them too； these s。 We must pay them back
in the same coin； meet them with the same weapons。 Abolish them；
tumble these assassinateurs into the abyss of nothingness by the
same means。
〃But how？〃
〃How？ Name of God！ haven't I said it？〃
〃That is where we require your help；〃 Le Chapelier put in。 〃There
must be men of patriotic feeling among the more advanced of your
pupils。 M。 Danton's idea is that a little band of these … say a
half…dozen； with yourself at their head … might read these bullies
a sharp lesson。〃
Andre…Louis frowned。
〃And how； precisely； had M。 Danton thought that this might be done？〃
M。 Danton spoke for himself； vehemently。
〃Why； thus： We post you in the Manege； at the hour when the Assembly
is rising。 We point out the six leading phlebotomists； and let you
loose to insult them before they have time to insult any of the
representatives。 Then to…morrow morning； six phlebotomists
themselves phlebotomized secundum artem。 That will give the others
something to think about。 It will give them a great deal to think
about； by ！ If necessary the dose may be repeated to ensure a
cure。 If you kill the s； so much the better。〃
He paused； his sallow face flushed with the enthusiasm of his idea。
Andre…Louis stared at him inscrutably。
〃Well； what do you say to that？〃
〃That it is most ingenious。〃 And Andre…Louis turned aside to look
out of the window。
〃And is that all you think of it？〃
〃I will not tell you what else I think of it because you probably
would not understand。 For you； M。 Danton； there is at least this
excuse that you did not know me。 But you； Isaac … to bring this
gentleman here with such a proposal！〃
Le Chapelier was overwhelmed in confusion。 〃I confess I hesitated；〃
he apologized。 〃But M。 Danton would not take my word for it that
the proposal might not be to your taste。〃
〃I would not！〃 Danton broke in； bellowing。 He swung upon Le
Chapelier； brandishing his great arms。 〃You told me monsieur was
a patriot。 Patriotism knows no scruples。 You call this mincing
dancing…master a patriot？〃
〃Would you； monsieur； out of patriotism consent to become an
assassin？〃
〃Of course I would。 haven't I told you so？ haven't I told you
that I would gladly go among them with my club； and crack them
like so many … fleas？〃
〃Why not； then？〃
〃Why not？ Because I should get myself hanged。 Haven't I said so？〃
〃But what of that…being a patriot？ Why not； like another Curtius；
jump into the gulf； since you believe that your country would
benefit by your death？〃
M。 Danton showed signs of exasperation。 〃Because my country will
benefit more by my life。〃
〃Permit me； monsieur； to suffer from a similar vanity。〃
〃You？ But where would be the danger to you？ You would do your
work under the cloak of duelling … as they do。〃
〃Have you reflected； monsieur； that the law will hardly regard a
fencing…master who kills hi