decide the fate
of France."

"A fig for little France! Vive le Vertueux Robespierre, la Colonne de
la Republique! (Long life to the virtuous Robespierre, the pillar of the
Republic!) Plague on this talking; it is dry work. Hast thou no eau de
vie in that little cupboard?"

Dumas and Fouquier exchanged looks of disgust. Dumas shrugged his
shoulders, and replied,--

"It is to guard thee against eau de vie, Citizen General Henriot, that I
have requested thee to meet me here. Listen if thou canst!"

"Oh, talk away! thy metier is to talk, mine to fight and to drink."

"To-morrow, I tell thee then, the populace will be abroad; all factions
will be astir. It is probable enough that they will even seek to arrest
our tumbrils on their way to the guillotine. Have thy men armed and
ready; keep the streets clear; cut down without mercy whomsoever may
obstruct the ways."

"I understand," said Henriot, striking his sword so loudly that Dumas
half-started at the clank,--"Black Henriot is no 'Indulgent.'"

"Look to it, then, citizen,--look to it! And hark thee," he added, with
a grave and sombre brow, "if thou wouldst keep thine own head on thy
shoulders, beware of the eau de vie."

"My own head!--sacre mille tonnerres! Dost thou threaten the general of
the Parisian army?"

Dumas, like Robespierre, a precise atrabilious, and arrogant man, was
about to retort, when the craftier Tinville laid his hand on his arm,
and, turning to the general, said, "My dear Henriot, thy dauntless
republicanism, which is too ready to give offence, must learn to take
a reprimand from the representative of Republican Law. Seriously, mon
cher, thou must be sober for the next three or four days; after the
crisis is over, thou and I will drink a bottle together. Come, Dumas
relax thine austerity, and shake hands with our friend. No quarrels
amongst ourselves!"

Dumas hesitated, and extended his hand, which the ruffian clasped; and,
maudlin tears succeeding his ferocity, he half-sobbed, half-hiccoughed
forth his protestations of civism and his promises of sobriety.

"Well, we depend on thee, mon general," said Dumas; "and now, since we
shall all have need of vigour for to-morrow, go home and sleep soundly."

"Yes, I forgive thee, Dumas,--I forgive thee. I am not vindictive,--I!
but still, if a man threatens me; if a man insults me--" and, with the
quick changes of intoxication, again his eyes gleamed fire through their
foul tears. With some diffi