, or
horse-pistol, as some give it; other dog-visages kindling under him:--a
man not likely to end well! However, the Guillotine was not got together
impromptu, that day, 'on the Pont Saint-Clair,' or elsewhere; but indeed
continued lying rusty in its loft: (Hist. Parl. xxiv. 385-93; xxvi. 229,
&c.) Nievre-Chol with military went about, rumbling cannon, in the most
confused manner; and the 'nine hundred prisoners' received no hurt.
So distracted is Lyons grown, with its cannon rumbling. Convention
Commissioners must be sent thither forthwith: if even they can appease
it, and keep the Guillotine in its loft?

Consider finally if, on all these mad jarrings of the Southern Cities,
and of France generally, a traitorous Crypto-Royalist class is not
looking and watching; ready to strike in, at the right season! Neither
is there bread; neither is there soap: see the Patriot women selling
out sugar, at a just rate of twenty-two sous per pound! Citizen
Representatives, it were verily well that your quarrels finished, and
the reign of Perfect Felicity began.

Chapter 3.3.III.

Growing shrill.

On the whole, one cannot say that the Girondins are wanting to
themselves, so far as good-will might go. They prick assiduously
into the sore-places of the Mountain; from principle, and also from
jesuitism.

Besides September, of which there is now little to be made except
effervescence, we discern two sore-places where the Mountain often
suffers: Marat and Orleans Egalite. Squalid Marat, for his own sake and
for the Mountain's, is assaulted ever and anon; held up to France, as a
squalid bloodthirsty Portent, inciting to the pillage of shops; of whom
let the Mountain have the credit! The Mountain murmurs, ill at ease:
this 'Maximum of Patriotism,' how shall they either own him or
disown him? As for Marat personally, he, with his fixed-idea, remains
invulnerable to such things: nay the People's-friend is very evidently
rising in importance, as his befriended People rises. No shrieks now,
when he goes to speak; occasional applauses rather, furtherance which
breeds confidence. The day when the Girondins proposed to 'decree him
accused' (decreter d'accusation, as they phrase it) for that February
Paragraph, of 'hanging up a Forestaller or two at the door-lintels,'
Marat proposes to have them 'decreed insane;' and, descending
the Tribune-steps, is heard to articulate these most unsenatorial
ejaculations: "Les Cochons, les imbecilles,