n their attacks. They affected
mutual respect, even when most offensive; but this repressed animosity
only corroded their hearts more deeply, and it burst forth occasionally
beneath the politeness of their language, like death beneath the glance
of steel.

All these fermentations of division, rivalry, and resentment, boiled
over in the April sittings. They were like a general review of two great
parties who were about to destroy the empire in disputing their own
ascendency. The Feuillants or moderate constitutionalists were the
victims, that each of the two popular parties mutually immolated to the
suspicions and rage of parties. Raederer, a moderate Jacobin, was accused
of having dined with the Feuillants, friends of La Fayette. "I do not
only inculpate Raederer," exclaimed Tallien, "I denounce Condorcet and
Brissot. Let us drive from our society the ambitious and the
Cromwellites."

"The moment for unmasking traitors will soon arrive," said Robespierre
in his turn. "I do not desire to unmask them to-day. The blow when
struck must be decisive. I wish that all France heard me now. I wish
that the culpable chief of these factions, La Fayette, was here with all
his army; I would say to his soldiers, whilst I presented my
breast,--Strike! That moment would be the last of La Fayette and the
_intrigants_" (this name had been invented by Robespierre for the
Girondists). Fauchet excused himself for having said that Guadet,
Vergniaud, Gensonne, and Brissot might be, advantageously for the
country, placed at the head of the government. The Girondists were
accused of dreaming of a _protector_, the Jacobins a _tribune_ of the
people.

At last, Brissot rose to reply. "I am here to defend myself," he said.
"What are my crimes? I am said to have made seven ministers--I keep up a
connection with La Fayette--I desire to make a protector of him.
Certainly great power is thus assigned to me by those who think that
from my fourth story I have dictated laws to the Chateau of the
Tuileries. But if it even were true that I had made ministers, how long
has it been a crime to have confided the interests of the people to the
hands of the people? This minister is about, it is said, to distribute
all his favours to the Jacobins! Ah! would to heaven that all the places
were filled by Jacobins!"

At these words Camille Desmoulins, Brissot's enemy, concealed in the
chamber, bowing towards his neighbour, said aloud with a sneering laugh,
"What