"Danton!" exclaimed Marat, and a livid light appeared in his eyes.
"Well, what?" said Danton.
Thus these three terrible men went on talking. A quarrel of thunderbolts.
CHAPTER III.
THE THRILL OF HIDDEN CHORDS.
There was a lull in the conversation; for a moment these Titans each became lost in thought. Lions are disturbed by hydras. Robespierre had grown very pale, and Danton very red. Both trembled. The light died out of Marat's eye; a calmness, an imperious calmness came over the face of this man, the terror of the terrible."
Danton felt that he was conquered, but was unwilling to admit it. He resumed,—
"Marat talks very loud about dictatorship and unity, but he has only one power, that of dissolution."
Robespierre compressed his thin lips, and added,—
"I am of the opinion of Anacharsis Cloots; I say neither Roland nor Marat."
"And for my part," replied Marat, "I say, neither Danton nor Robespierre."
He looked steadily at both and added,—
"Let me give you some advice, Danton. You are in love, you think of marrying again, don't meddle any more with politics, be wise!"
And stepping back towards the door to go out, he gave them this ominous farewell.
"Adieu, gentlemen."
Danton and Robespierre shuddered.
At the same time, a voice rose from the other end of the room, saying,—
"You are wrong, Marat."
All turned round. During Marat's outburst, some one had come in by the rear door, without their notice.
"It is you, Citizen Cimourdain," said Marat. "Good evening."
It was Cimourdain, indeed.
