d; others
hoped; and yet others had vengeance to satisfy, especially the remnants
of Danton's, of Brissot's and of Hebert's party. St. Just saw the
danger of the situation and attempted to cow opposition. He spoke
threateningly of the necessity for a dictatorship and for a long list
of proscriptions.

It was the most silent member of the Committee of Public Safety,
Carnot, who brought on the crisis. Affecting an exclusive concern for
the conduct of the war and perfunctorily {217} signing all that related
to internal affairs, he was secretly restive and anxious to escape from
the horrible situation. Prompted by some of his colleagues, he
ordered, on the 24th of July, that the Paris national guard artillery
should go to the front. This was taking the decisive arm out of the
hands of Hanriot, for Hanriot had made his peace with Robespierre, had
survived the fall of Hebert, and was still in command of the national
guard.

There could be no mistaking the significance of Carnot's step. On the
same night Couthon loudly denounced it at the Jacobins, and the club
decided that it would petition the Convention to take action against
Robespierre's enemies. Next day Barere replied. He read a long speech
to the Convention in which, without venturing names, he blamed citizens
who were not heartened by the victories of the army and who meditated
further proscriptions. On the 26th, the 8th of Thermidor, Robespierre
reappeared in the assembly, and ascended the tribune to reply to Barere.

Robespierre felt that the tide was flowing against him; instinct,
premonitions, warned him that perhaps his end was not far off. In this
speech--it was to be his last before the Convention--the melancholy
note prevailed. {218} There was no effort to conciliate, no attempt at
being politic, only a slightly disheartened tone backed by the
iteration which France already knew so well:--the remedy for the evil
must be sought in purification; the Convention, the Committee of Public
Safety, must be purged.

Under the accustomed spell the Convention listened to the end. The
usual motions were put. Robespierre left the assembly. It was voted
that his speech should be printed; and that it should be posted in all
the communes of France. For a moment it looked as though the iron yoke
were immovably fixed. Then Cambon went to the tribune, and ventured to
discuss Robespierre's views. Billaud followed. And presently the
Convention, hardly realiz