aily task so as not to let
the machine stand still, as if a long life were before us, when it was
probable that we should not see the next day's sun."

It is impossible to count on one's life, or that of another, for
twenty-four hours; should the iron hand which holds one by the throat
tighten its grasp, all will be over that evening.

"There were certain days so difficult that one could see no way
to control circumstances; those who were directly menaced resigned
themselves wholly to chance."[3255]--"The decisions for which we are
so much blamed," says another,[3256] "were not generally thought of
two days, or one day, beforehand; they sprung out of the crisis of the
moment. We did not desire to kill for the sake of killing... but to
conquer at all hazards, remain masters, and ensure the sway of our
principles."--That is true,--they are subjects as well as despots. At
the Committee table, during their nocturnal sessions, their sovereign
presides, a formidable figure, the revolutionary Idea which confers on
them the right to slay, on condition of exercising it against everybody,
and therefore on themselves. Towards two o'clock, or three o'clock in
the morning, exhausted, out of words and ideas, not knowing where to
slay, on the right or on the left, they anxiously turn to this figure
and try to read its will in its fixed eyes.

"Who shall fall to-morrow?"--

Ever the same reply steadily expressed on the features of the impassable
phantom: "the counter-revolutionaries," under which name is comprised
all who by act, speech, thought or inmost sentiment, either through
irritation or carelessness, through humanity or moderation, through
egoism or nonchalance, through passive, neutral or indifferent feeling,
serve well or ill the Revolution.[3257]--All that remains is to add
names to this horribly comprehensive decree. Shall Billaud do it?
Shall Robespierre do it? Will Billaud put down Robespierre's name, or
Robespierre put down Billaud's, or each the name of the other, with
those he chooses to select from among the two Committees? Osselin,
Chabot, Bazire, Julien de Toulouse, Lacroix, Danton, were on them, and
when they left, their heads fell.[3258] Herault-Sechelles, again, was on
them, maintained in office with honor through the recent approbation
of the Convention,[3259] one of the titular twelve, and on duty when
an order issued by the other eleven suddenly handed him over to the
revolutionary Tribunal for execution.-