The most precious life in Europe even was only to be saved if its price went to swell the pockets of de Batz, or to further his future ambitions.
Times had indeed changed an entire nation.

St.Just felt as sickened with this self-seeking Royalist as he did with the savage brutes who struck to right or left for their own delectation.

He was meditating immediate flight back to his lodgings, with a hope of finding there a word for him from the chief--a word to remind him that men did live nowadays who had other aims besides their own advancement--other ideals besides the deification of self.
The curtain had descended on the first act, and traditionally, as the works of M.de Moliere demanded it, the three knocks were heard again without any interval.

St.Just rose ready with a pretext for parting with his friend.

The curtain was being slowly drawn up on the second act, and disclosed Alceste in wrathful conversation with Celimene.
Alceste's opening speech is short.