, etc., at the table of Desforges, Minister of Foreign
Affairs. "Danton made no concealment of his love of pleasure and money,
and laughed at all conscientious and delicate scruples."--" Legendre
could not say enough in praise of Danton in speaking of his talents as a
public man; but he loudly censured his habits and cxpensive tastes,
and never joined him in any of his odious speculations."--The opposite
thesis has been maintained by Robinet and Bougeart in their articles
on Danton. The discussion would require too much space. The important
points are as follows: Danton, a barrister in the royal council in March, 1787, loses about
10,000 francs on the refund of his charge. In his marriage-contract
dated June, 1787, he admits 12,000 francs patrimony in lands and houses,
while his wife brings him only 20,000 francs dowry. From 1787 to 1791 he
could not earn much, being in constant attendance at the Cordeliers club
and devoted to politics; Lacretelle saw him in the riots of 1788. He
left at his death about 85,000 francs in national property bought in
1791. Besides, he probably held property and valuables under
third parties, who kept them after his death. (De Martel, "Types
Revolutionnaires," 2d part, p.139. Investigations of Blache at
Choisy-sur-Seine, where a certain Fauvel seems to have been Danton's
assumed name.)--See on this question, "Avocats aux conseils du Roi," by
Emil Bos, pp.513-520. According to accounts proved by M. Bos, it follows
that Danton, at the end of 1791, was in debt to the amount of 53,000
francs; this is the hole stopped by the court. On the other side, Danton
before the Revolution signs himself Danton even in authentic writing,
which is an usurpation of nobility and at that time subject to the
penalty of the galleys.--The double-faced infidelity in question must
have been frequent, for their leaders were anything else but sensitive.
On the 7th of August Madame Elizabeth tells M. de Montmorin that
the insurrection would not take place; that Petion and Santerre were
concerned in it, and that they had received 750,000 francs to prevent
it and bring over the Marseilles troop to the king's side (Malouet,
II. 223).--There is no doubt that Santerre, in using the king's money
against the king, thought he was acting patriotically. Money is at the
bottom of every riot, to pay for drink and to stimulate subordinate
agents.]

[Footnote 26138: Buchez et Roux, XXVIII. 92. Letter of Gadolle to
Roland, October, 1