But still, as some wild beast disappointed of a prey, he growled and snarled as his heavy tread descended the stairs.

A tall trooper, mounted, was leading Henriot's horse to and fro the streets; and as the general waited at the porch till his attendant turned, a stranger stationed by the wall accosted him: "General Henriot, I have desired to speak with thee.

Next to Robespierre, thou art, or shouldst be, the most powerful man in France." "Hem!--yes, I ought to be.

What then ?--every man has not his deserts!" "Hist!" said the stranger; "thy pay is scarcely suitable to thy rank and thy wants." "That is true." "Even in a revolution, a man takes care of his fortunes!" "Diable! speak out, citizen." "I have a thousand pieces of gold with me,--they are thine, if thou wilt grant me one small favour." "Citizen, I grant it!" said Henriot, waving his hand majestically.

"Is it to denounce some rascal who has offended thee ?" "No; it is simply this: write these words to President Dumas, 'Admit the bearer to thy presence; and, if thou canst, grant him the request he will make to thee, it will be an inestimable obligation to Francois Henriot.'" The stranger, as he spoke, placed pencil and tablets in the shaking hands of the soldier.
"And where is the gold ?" "Here." With some difficulty, Henriot scrawled the words dictated to him, clutched the gold, mounted his horse, and was gone.
Meanwhile Fouquier, when he had closed the door upon Henriot, said sharply, "How canst thou be so mad as to incense that brigand?
Knowest thou not that our laws are nothing without the physical force of the National Guard, and that he is their leader ?" "I know this, that Robespierre must have been mad to place that drunkard at their head; and mark my words, Fouquier, if the struggle come, it is that man's incapacity and cowardice that will destroy us.