and said with an amiable smile:

"You do agree with me, then, Citizen, that the situation has become
intolerable?"

Then as Chauvelin did not reply, he continued, speaking more
sharply:

"And how terribly galling it all is, when we could have had that man
under the guillotine by now, if you had not blundered so terribly last
year."

His voice had become hard and trenchant like that knife to which he
was so ready to make constant allusion. But Chauvelin still remained
silent. There was really nothing that he could say.

"Citizen Chauvelin, how you must hate that man!" exclaimed
Robespierre at last.

Then only did Chauvelin break the silence which up to now he had
appeared to have forced himself to keep.

"I do!" he said with unmistakable fervour.

"Then why do you not make an effort to retrieve the blunders of last
year?" queried Robespierre blandly. "The Republic has been unusually
patient and long-suffering with you, Citizen Chauvelin. She has taken
your many services and well-known patriotism into consideration.
But you know," he added significantly, "that she has no use for
worthless tools."