CHAPTER V.
The Outburst "Monsieur le Marquis," M.du Tillet exclaimed, hurrying into the salon, in which the marquis with his family were sitting, on the evening of the 21st of August, "I hear that it is rumoured in the street that all the members of noble families are to be arrested." The room was lit up as if to receive company, but the crowd which had thronged it a fortnight before were gone.

The Girondists had first withdrawn, then the nobles had begun to fall off, for it had become dangerous for them to show themselves in the streets, where they were liable to be insulted and attacked by the mob.

Moreover, any meeting of known Royalists was regarded with suspicion by the authorities, and so gradually the gatherings had become smaller and smaller.
The only constant visitor now was the Count de Gisons, but he to-night was absent.

The news was not unexpected.

The violence of the extremists of the Mountain had been increasing daily.