f troublous times, without the power to arrest his course; an
advocate expelled from the body to which he belonged; then a soldier,
and a clerk at the barriere; always disliked, aspiring for power to
recover his fortune, and suspected of pillage. Alexandre, the commandant
of the battalion of the Gobelins, the hero of the faubourg, the friend
of Legendre. Marat, a living conspiracy, who had quitted his
subterranean abode in the night; a living martyr of demagogism,
revelling in excitement, carrying his hatred of society to madness,
exulting in it, and voluntarily playing the part of the fool of the
people as so many others had played at the courts the part of the king's
fool. Dubois Crance, a brave and educated soldier. Brune, a sabre, at
the service of all conspiracies. Mormoro, a printer, intoxicated with
philosophy. Dubuisson, an obscure writer, whom the hisses of the theatre
had forced to take refuge in intrigue. Fabre d'Eglantine, a comic poet,
ambitious of another field for his powers. Chabot, a capuchin monk,
embittered by the cloister, and eager to avenge himself on the
superstition which had imprisoned him. Lareynie, a soldier-priest.
Gonchon, Duquesnois, friends of Robespierre. Carra, a Girondist
journalist. An Italian, named Rotondo. Henriot, Sillery, Louvet, Laclos,
and Barbaroux, the emissary of Roland and Brissot, were the principal
instigators of the _emeute_ of the 20th of June.

V.

All these men met in an isolated house at Charenton, to concert in the
stillness and secrecy of the night on the pretext, the plan, and the
hour of the insurrection. The passions of these men were different, but
their impatience was the same; some wished to terrify, others to strike,
but all wished to act; when once the people were let loose, they would
stop where destiny willed. There were no scruples at a meeting at which
Danton presided; speeches were superfluous where but one feeling
prevailed; propositions were sufficient, and a look was enough to convey
all their meaning. A pressure of the hand, a glance, a significant
gesture, are the eloquence of men of action. In a few words, Danton
dictated the purpose, Santerre the means, Marat the atrocious energy,
Camilla Desmoulins the cynical gaiety of the projected movement, and all
decided on the resolution of urging the people to this act. A
revolutionary map of Paris was laid on the table, and on it Danton
traced the sources, the tributary streams, the course, and the
m