Part 19 (1/2)

Not if Danton could protect and save!

Stern was his voice as he said to the jailer:

”There is some mistake. Keep her--and her friend--until I return!” He was on his heel and striding to the courtroom.

A follower sensed his purpose. He laid hand on Danton's shoulder, saying: ”No, Danton--you endanger your own life!”

”What if I do? She must be saved.”

As we see him pa.s.s into the Tribunal, let us stop for a moment and watch the procedure in the death chamber. Outside, the tumbrils of death clatter up to receive their load. A functionary calls the names of the condemned whilst a court officer identifies them. Each in turn is bundled off to the carts. The men hesitate over Henriette and Maurice.

”The ex-Minister of Justice,” said one, ”asked that this case be delayed.”

”Her name is here,” said the master functionary, a creature of the Dictator. ”She goes--”

”We might as well take the other too,” said the court officer, pointing to de Vaudrey....

Superbly the Lion of the Revolution faced the judges and the mob, and demanded a hearing. Robespierre uplifted eyebrows and half-smiled, vulpinely. His rapid exchange of looks with the Court seemed to say: ”Well, we have got to listen to this crazy man, but be on guard!”

The president, Jacques-Forget-Not, took the cue and acceded to Danton's request.

”A great injustice has been done,” cried Danton, ”to the innocent and helpless. I ask the lives of Henriette Girard and Citizen de Vaudrey!”

The judges did not need to answer.

A savage cry of ”No! No!” swelled from the infuriated ”Mountain.”

The sansculottes half rose from their benches, shaking minatory fists, yelling, gesticulating. Faces were contorted in fury. The mob--the same that had once acclaimed Danton in chair of state--was not to be balked of blood.

The orator continued: ”These sufferers are friends of you who demand their death. The girl once saved _me_--the organizer of your victory--from spada.s.sins. The boy was ever known as the people's benefactor--I have seen him buy loaves to keep you from starving! Now through trumped-up charges they are to be hurried away to death--”

”You question the justice of the people's Tribunal?” interrupted Judge Forget-Not shrilly, with obvious play at the mob.

”h.e.l.l's bells!” replied the indignant Thunderer. ”I established this Tribunal. Did not I as Minister of Justice set it in being, and shall I not speak when crimes are done in its name!”

... In the death chamber Henriette and Maurice were trying to kiss each other good-by. The guards had separated them. Vaudrey was going in one death cart, Henriette in another....

He had silenced the querulous Forget-Not, was waking the echoes with the same thunders that had nerved France to resist the foe. ”I ask for their lives not only, but for MERCY and JUSTICE to wipe out the tyranny and cruelty that are befouling all of us. I ask for a regenerated nation, purged of these vile offences.”

Robespierre was sinisterly serious now.

The group of judges sat amazed.

”Give Danton a hearing!” was the murmur among the sansculottes, half awed by his old witchery.

The impa.s.sioned orator swung upon them, his old supporters.