idence against the king and
many others, if necessary; and lest this should fail Gamain has a story
that when the work was done the king attempted to poison him so that the
secret might be safe. So the king must be tried. And louder than ever
thunders the war along the frontier while this trial goes forward. There
can be no quarter, no terms of peace. The sword is sharply naked, there
is no scabbard in which to sheath it. What gauge shall France hurl at
the feet of her enemies? Once again Danton, mighty in the Club of the
Cordeliers, suggests the answer: Why not the head of a king?

Raymond Latour was busy. Little time could he give to Sabatier when he
came each morning to make report of the prisoner in his cell
underground; he was not inclined to listen to Sabatier's persuasion, or
to be impressed by his henchman's ideas.

"He knows where she is. He shall tell the truth."

It was Latour's daily statement, although Sabatier thought it was less
definitely said as the days passed. He was not sure whether Latour's
faith in his conviction was wavering, or whether it was only that he
had other things to think of.

Those who served Latour were kept busy. It was a time when loss of
popularity might be dangerous, and their master had thrown his into the
balance. His voice had been heard in the Riding Hall where friends were
daily being divided and factions made. He had spoken on behalf of Louis
Capet. The head of a king was not necessary to save France. He had
naught to do with mercy, not even with expedience; Justice spoke louder
than either, and Justice would not be served by the death of Louis
Capet. There were some who roared at him, some who shouted for him; it
was difficult to tell which side was the more numerous. Robespierre
looked at Latour but said nothing. Danton tried argument. Barrere, the
President, tried to understand the popular feeling, and failed. Raymond
Latour had many friends, but he turned some old friends into enemies by
his speech. He was farseeing enough to know that his desire for Justice
was dangerous, would be doubly so unless his hold upon the different
sections of the populace was maintained. So Sabatier, Mercier, Dubois
and the rest had much to do in the districts and among those sections of
the populace where they had influence.

Still every morning, Sabatier kept Latour in mind of his private
affairs, and argued with him. He did not wait to receive advice, he gave
it, and in such a way that