Rohan the Necklace-Cardinal; but
will gain none here. Advocate Tronchet, some ten years older, does not
decline. Nay behold, good old Malesherbes steps forward voluntarily;
to the last of his fields, the good old hero! He is grey with seventy
years: he says, 'I was twice called to the Council of him who was my
Master, when all the world coveted that honour; and I owe him the same
service now, when it has become one which many reckon dangerous.' These
two, with a younger Deseze, whom they will select for pleading, are busy
over that Fifty-and-sevenfold Indictment, over the Hundred and Sixty-two
Documents; Louis aiding them as he can.

A great Thing is now therefore in open progress; all men, in all lands,
watching it. By what Forms and Methods shall the Convention acquit
itself, in such manner that there rest not on it even the suspicion of
blame? Difficult that will be! The Convention, really much at a loss,
discusses and deliberates. All day from morning to night, day after day,
the Tribune drones with oratory on this matter; one must stretch the old
Formula to cover the new Thing. The Patriots of the Mountain, whetted
ever keener, clamour for despatch above all; the only good Form will
be a swift one. Nevertheless the Convention deliberates; the Tribune
drones,--drowned indeed in tenor, and even in treble, from time to time;
the whole Hall shrilling up round it into pretty frequent wrath and
provocation. It has droned and shrilled wellnigh a fortnight, before
we can decide, this shrillness getting ever shriller, That on Wednesday
26th of December, Louis shall appear, and plead. His Advocates complain
that it is fatally soon; which they well might as Advocates: but without
remedy; to Patriotism it seems endlessly late.

On Wednesday, therefore, at the cold dark hour of eight in the morning,
all Senators are at their post. Indeed they warm the cold hour, as we
find, by a violent effervescence, such as is too common now; some Louvet
or Buzot attacking some Tallien, Chabot; and so the whole Mountain
effervescing against the whole Gironde. Scarcely is this done, at nine,
when Louis and his three Advocates, escorted by the clang of arms and
Santerre's National force, enter the Hall.

Deseze unfolds his papers; honourably fulfilling his perilous office,
pleads for the space of three hours. An honourable Pleading, 'composed
almost overnight;' courageous yet discreet; not without ingenuity,
and soft pathetic eloquence: Loui