the ordinary courts, which are not to be trusted
because they belong to the defunct regime, but before a specially
organized tribunal, a sort of "chambre ardente,"[3109] elected by the
sections, that is to say, by a Jacobin minority. These improvised judges
must give judgment on conviction, without appeal; there must be no
preliminary examinations, no interval of time between arrest and
execution, no dilatory and protective formalities. And above all, the
Assembly must be expeditious in passing the decree; "otherwise," it is
informed by a delegate from the Commune,[3110] "the tocsin will be rung
at midnight and the general alarm sounded; for the people are tired
of waiting to be avenged. Look out lest they do themselves justice!--A
moment later, new threats and with an advanced deadline. "If the juries
are not ready to act in two or three hours great misfortunes will
overtake Paris."

Even if the new tribunal, set up on the spot, is quick, guillotining
three innocent persons in five days; it does not move fast enough.
On the 23rd of August one of the sections declares to the Commune in
furious language that the people themselves, "wearied and indignant"
with so many delays, mean to force open the prisons and massacre the
inmates.[3111]--Not only do the sections harass the judges, but they
force the accused into their presence: a deputation from the Commune and
the Federates summons the Assembly "to transfer the criminals at Orleans
to Paris to undergo the penalty of their heinous crimes". "Otherwise,"
says the speaker, "we will not answer for the vengeance of the
people."[3112] And in a still more imperative manner:

"You have heard and you know that insurrection is a sacred duty," a
sacred duty towards and against all: towards the Assembly if it refuses,
and towards the tribunal if it acquits. They dash at their prey contrary
to all legislative and judicial formalities, like a kite across the web
of a spider, while nothing detach them from their fixed ideas. On the
acquittal of M. Luce de Montmorin[3113] the gross audience, mistaking
him for his cousin the former minister of Louis XVI., break out in
murmurs. The president tries to enforce silence, which increases
the uproar, and M. de Montmorin is in danger. On this the president,
discovering a side issue, announces that one of the jurors is related to
the accused, and that in such a case a new jury must be impaneled and
a new trial take place; that the matter will b