that same evening the section le peletier convened in its committee rooms, and secured the co-operation of the sections butte-des-moulins, contrat-social, luxembourg, théatre-fran?aise, rue poissonière, brutus, and temple. then it filled the streets of paris with bands of muscadins (the word is synonymous with incroyables, only with a wider meaning), who went about shouting, "down with the two-thirds men!"

the convention, on the other hand, mustered all the troops it could command at the camp of sablons, about six thousand men, under general menou, who in 1792 had commanded the second camp formed near paris, and had been sent to the vendée, where he had been defeated. these antecedents had secured him, on the 2d prairial, the appointment of general of the interior, and had saved the convention.

some young men, shouting "down with the two-thirds men!" had met a squad of menou's soldiers, and refusing to disperse when ordered to do so, they had fired upon the soldiers, who had replied to their pistol-shots with gun-shots, and blood had been shed.

in the meantime—that is to say, on the evening of the 10th vendémiaire—the young president of the section le peletier, which was then in session at the convent of the daughters of saint thomas (which was situated on the spot where the bourse now stands), gave up the chair to the vice-president, and, jumping into a carriage, was driven rapidly to a large house in the rue n?tre-dame-des-victoires, belonging to the jesuits. all the windows of this house were closed, and not a ray of light escaped them.

the young man stopped the carriage at the gate and paid the driver; then, when the carriage had turned the[pg 254] corner of the rue du puit-qui-parle, and the sound of the wheels had died away, he went a few steps further, and, making sure that the street was empty, knocked at the gate in a peculiar manner. the gate was opened so quickly that it was evident that some one was stationed behind it to attend to visitors.

"moses," said the affiliated member who opened the gate.

"manou," replied the new-comer.

the gate closed in answer to this response of the hindoo to the hebrew lawgiver, and the way being pointed out to the young president of the section le peletier, he proceeded round the corner of the house. the windows overlooking the garden were closed as carefully as those which overlooked the street. the front door was open, however, though a guard stood before it. this time it was the new-comer who said: "moses!"

and the other replied, "manou!"

thereupon the doorkeeper drew back to allow the young president to pass; and he, encountering no further obstacle, went straight to a third door, which admitted him to a room where he found the persons whom he was seeking. they were the presidents of the sections butte-des-moulins, contrat-social, luxembourg, rue poissonière, brutus and temple, who had come to announce that they were ready to follow the mother section, and to join in the rebellion.

the new-comer had hardly opened the door when he was greeted by a man about forty-five years of age, wearing a general's uniform. this was citizen auguste danican, who had just been appointed general-in-chief of the sections. he had served in the vendée against the vendéans, but, suspected of connivance with georges cadoudal, he had been recalled, had escaped the guillotine by a miracle only, thanks to the 9th thermidor, and had subsequently taken his place in the ranks of the counter-revolution.

the royalist sections were at first strongly inclined to nominate the young president of the section le peletier, who was highly recommended by the royalist agency,[pg 255] through lemaistre, and who had come from besan?on only three days earlier. but the latter, learning that overtures had already been made to danican, and that, if he were deprived of the command, the sections would probably feel his enmity, declared that he would be satisfied with second or even third place, always providing that he should have an equal opportunity to take as active a part as possible in the inevitable battle.

danican left a man of low stature with a twisted mouth and sinister expression to speak to the visitor. this was fréron. fréron, repudiated by the mountain, who abandoned him to the sharp stings of mo?se bayle; fréron, once a bigoted republican, but who had in turn been repudiated with disgust by the grirondins, who abandoned him to the withering curses of isnard; fréron, who, stripped of his false patriotism, though covered with the leprosy of crime, and feeling the need of sheltering himself behind the banner of some party, had joined the royalist faction which, like all parties who are on the losing side, was not too particular as to whom it admitted within its ranks.

we frenchmen have passed through many revolutions, but not one of us can explain certain antipathies, which, in times of trouble, seem to attach to some political personages, and it appears equally difficult to attempt to explain certain illogical alliances. fréron was nothing, and had in no way distinguished himself. he had neither mind, character, nor political distinction. as a journalist he was a mere hack, selling to the first comer what was left of his father's reputation and honor. sent to the provinces as a representative of the people, he returned from marseilles and toulon, covered with royalist blood.

explain it who can.

fréron now found himself at the head of a powerful party in which youth, energy, and vengeance were conspicuous, a party which burned with the passions of the times—passions which, since the law was in abeyance, led to everything except public confidence.

[pg 256]

fréron had just been relating with much emphasis the exploits of the young men who had come to open rupture with menou's soldiers.

the young president, on the contrary, reported with the utmost simplicity the occurrences at the convention, adding that retreat had now become an impossibility. war had been declared between the representatives and the members of the sections; victory would unquestionably remain with those who marched first to the attack.

but however pressing the matter, danican declared that nothing could be done until lemaistre had returned to the session with the person who was with him. he had scarcely finished speaking, however, when the chief of the royalist agencies re-entered the room, followed by a man about twenty-five, with a frank open face, curly blond hair which almost hid his forehead, prominent blue eyes, a short neck, broad chest, and limbs that would have become a hercules. he wore the costume of the rich peasant of the morbihan, save that he had added to it a gold braid about an inch wide, that bordered the collar and buttonholes of his coat, as well as the brim of his hat.

as the young leader advanced to meet him, the chouan held out his hand. it was evident that the two conspirators knew they were to meet, and though unacquainted with each other, their recognition had been mutual.