His first feeling was one of loathing and hatred, but at the same moment there flashed through his mind the thought that chance had favoured him beyond his hopes, and that the comedy which he had planned with Victor to carry out upon the person of Marat had come to pass without premeditation, but with Robespierre as the chief actor.
But so surprised and so delighted was he that for a minute he sat unable to say a word.

Robespierre was gratified at the effect which his name had produced.

His was a strangely-mixed character--at once timid and bold, shrinking from personal danger, yet ready to urge the extremest measures.

Simple in his tastes, and yet very vain and greedy of applause.

Domestic and affectionate in his private character, but ready to shed a river of blood in his public capacity.
Pure in morals; passionless in his resolves; incorruptible and inflexible; the more dangerous because he had neither passion nor hate; because he had not, like Danton and Marat, a lust for blood, but because human life to him was as nothing, because had he considered it necessary that half France should die for the benefit of the other half he would have signed their death-warrant without emotion or hesitation.
"You are surprised, young man," he said, "but the ways of fate are inscrutable.