He was known to be in the service of Tallien, that hostile leader in the Convention, whom the tyrant had hitherto trembled to attack.

This incident had therefore produced a greater excitement than a circumstance so customary as an arrest in the Reign of Terror might be supposed to create.

Amongst the crowd were many friends of Tallien, many foes to the tyrant, many weary of beholding the tiger dragging victim after victim to its den.

Hoarse, foreboding murmurs were heard; fierce eyes glared upon the officers as they seized their prisoner; and though they did not yet dare openly to resist, those in the rear pressed on those behind, and encumbered the path of the captive and his captors.

The young man struggled hard for escape, and, by a violent effort, at last wrenched himself from the grasp.