to-morrow he will be accused of moderation. Danton and moderation!
--ye gods! Eh? Danton, who thought the guillotine too slow in its
work, and armed thirty soldiers with swords, so that thirty heads
might fall at one and the same time. Danton, friend, will perish
to-morrow accused of treachery against the Revolution, of moderation
towards her enemies; and curs like Heron will feast on the blood of
lions like Danton and his crowd."

He paused a moment, for he dared not raise his voice, and his
whispers were being drowned by the noise in the auditorium. The
curtain, timed to be raised at eight o'clock, was still down,
though it was close on half-past, and the public was growing
impatient. There was loud stamping of feet, and a few shrill
whistles of disapproval proceeded from the gallery.

"If Heron gets impatient," said de Batz lightly, when the noise
had momentarily subsided, the manager of this theatre and mayhap
his leading actor and actress will spend an unpleasant day
to-morrow."

"Always Heron!" said St. Just, with a contemptuous smile.

"Yes, my friend," rejoined the other imperturbably, "always Heron.
And he has even obtained a longer lease of existence this
afternoon."

"By the new decree?"

"Yes. The new decree. The agents of the Committee of General
Security, of whom Heron is the chief, have from to-day powers of