to be to the People's Society, which was still
quivering with rage at the indignities offered by Carrier to its
deputation.

Marc Antoine was shocked by what he heard, so shocked that instead of
going to visit the Representative on the morrow, he spent the morning
inditing a letter to Robespierre, in which he set forth in detail the
abuses of which Carrier was guilty, and the deplorable state of misery
in which he found the city of Nantes.

That night, as Marc Antoine was sinking into the peaceful slumber of the
man with duty done, he was rudely aroused by an officer and a couple
of men of the National Guard, who announced to him that he was under
arrest, and bade him rise and dress.

Marc Antoine flounced out of bed in a temper, and flaunted his
credentials. The officer remained unmoved. He was acting upon orders
from the Citizen Representative.

Still in a temper, Marc Antoine hurriedly dressed himself. He would soon
show this Representative that it is not safe to trifle with Agents of
the Public Safety. The Citizen Representative should hear from him. The
officer, still unimpressed, bundled him into a waiting carriage, and
bore him away to the Maison Villetreux, on the island where Carrier had
his residence.

Carrier had gone to bed. But he was awake, and he sat up promptly when
the young muscadin from Paris was roughly thrust into his room by the
soldiers. The mere sight of the Representative sufficed to evaporate
Marc Antoine's anger, and with it his courage.

Carrier's pallor was of a grey-green from the rage that possessed him.
His black eyes smouldered like those of an animal seen in the gloom, and
his tumbled black hair, fluttering about his moist brow, increased the
terrific aspect of his countenance. Marc Antoine shrank and was dumb.

"So," said Carrier, regarding him steadily, terribly, "you are the thing
that dares to denounce me to the Safety, that ventures to find fault
with my work!" From under his pillow he drew Marc Antoine's letter to
Robespierre. "Is this yours?"

At the sight of this violation of his correspondence with the
Incorruptible, Marc Antoine's indignation awoke, and revived his
courage.

"It is mine," he answered. "By what right have you intercepted it?"

"By what right?" Carrier put a leg out of bed. "So you question my
right, do you? You have so imposed yourself upon folk that you are given
powers, and you come here to air them, by--"

"You shall answer to the Citizen Robe