1I had no sooner quitted this frightful scene of bloodshed, than, thanking my saviors, I sprang forward towards the river, in order to cross it by boat, or, if there was a necessity, to swim it.

2The affair seemed to me grave. There must have been some treachery on foot, of which, in my mind the Jacobins ought to be instructed.

3There happened to be, in a boat anchored to the river’s bank, a man fishing, who did not disturb himself, notwithstanding the thundering of the cannon.

4Nothing ever disturbs a man fishing. To untie the rope, jump into the boat, and take possession of the oars, was but the work of a few moments. I had nearly half-way crossed the river before he recovered from his astonishment.

5At length, he demanded what I meant by this violence, both to himself and to his boat? I showed him a paper, and said, “An order from General Lafayette.” That was sufficient.

6I jumped out on the right bank, leaving the boat, with its owner, to regain the left.

7Once on solid ground, I took to my heels, and by Cours la Reine, and the Porte St. Honoré, I set out for M. Duplay’s house as fast as my legs could carry me.

8From Cours la Reine to the Church of the Assumption, in front of which M. Duplay lived, I found the streets greatly agitated and full of people.

9The red flag, the Mayor, the dragoons, and the paid guard were seen to pass; then, again, they had heard the terrible discharge of musketry; so that seeing me come from the Champ de Mars, running, the perspiration dropping off me, and all covered with blood, every one inquired of me the whole way along,—“What is the matter?”

10I had but one reply to make, and that while I was running.

11“The dragoons and the paid guard are slaughtering the people!”

12I found M. Duplay at his door, surrounded by a group of neighbors and acquaintances. I related to him all that had taken place.

13“Oh, ho!” said he; “the Jacobins must be informed of this. Quick!—let us run to the club!”

14About fifty members awaited the news with impatience. They had, as yet, heard nothing. I was the first messenger of the mournful intelligence.

15They said that M. Robespierre must at once be informed, and a messenger was despatched to the Assembly to fetch him.

16The Jacobins knew one fact, and that was, that all the blame would be left on their shoulders. It was they who had taken the initiative in the affair of the petition. The Constitutionals, who had separated from them, in order to form the new clubs Feuillants, washed their hands of this popular movement in opposition to the decree of the Assembly.

17They thanked M. Duplay and myself, and refused to recognise any petition tending to the dethronement of the King. Everything was circulated in the name of the Assembly, and the society swore anew fidelity to the Constitution and submission to the decrees of the Assembly.

18After what had presented itself to my view the preceding days, and after what I had written at the dictation of Citizen Brissot, I found this submission too prompt. There was at the bottom of it all an abandonment of the rights of the people, and a cowardice which disgusted me.

19I left the club, and returned pensively to the house.

20A half an hour or so after, might be heard a great disturbance towards the Place Louis XV.

21It was the paid guard, who were re-entering Paris by the Rue St. Honoré, to have an occasion to make a demonstration against the Jacobins.

22One had hardly the time to form palisades.

23The paid guard collected themselves before the Convent, demanding powder to blow the gate and demolish the den of the Republicans. They were laughed at; they were applauded; they were hissed. The street was full of people, looking at one another, ready to come to blows.

24It was plain to be seen that one of those misunderstandings had taken place which places the gun to one’s shoulder without one’s knowing upon whom to fire.

25All at once, I could perceive, in the Rue Luxembourg, a man gliding down the street, with an evident desire to pass unnoticed.

26I pulled my master’s coat, and whispered to him, “The Citizen Robespierre.”

27It was indeed none other but he, who had been sent to the Assembly, and who had arrived there just in time to have the door shut on his nose.

28It was evident that if he was recognised by the paid guard, he would run the risk of being shot.

29He was at this moment recognised by a group of persons, and cheered. No doubt, they were Jacobins.

30He quickened his pace, descending the street, to gain speedily the Faubourg St. Honoré.

31At the Rue de Luxembourg, several cries were raised of “Vive Robespierre!”

32He turned pale, and hesitated whether to take the Luxembourg or continue his road. He continued.

33“Vive Robespierre!” again cried a man. “And since it is absolutely necessary to have a King, why not have him?”

34Robespierre thought himself lost. He looked on all sides for shelter.

35Duplay rushed towards him.

36“At my house—at my house, citizen!” said he. “My name is Duplay! I am master carpenter, and a good citizen!”

37“Yes, yes—at our house!” said Madame Duplay and Mademoiselle Cornelie.

38And all three—the man and the two women—surrounded Robespierre, who, without the slightest resistance, allowed himself to be led into the alley.

39I entered last, and locked the door.

40The retreat was effected so prudently, that hardly a soul had perceived the manœuvre.

41Those that did see him said nothing, so that no noise was made at the door.

42Robespierre was extremely pale. He sat down, or rather fell, on the first chair that came in his way. Mademoiselle Cornelie wiped his forehead with her pocket-handkerchief, while Madame Duplay brought him a glass of fresh water.

43I placed the glass to his lips, but his hand shook so, that he made the glass chink against his teeth.

44However he drank, looked around him, tried to smile, and said, “I see that I am with friends.”

45“Say, rather, with admirers—with devoted admirers!” replied M. Duplay.

46“Oh, yes!” replied the three women.

47“Oh, if I had known it,” said M. Duplay, “I would not have allowed you to present yourself at the National Assembly.”

48“How so?” said Robespierre.

49“Yes; it was Réné,”—M. Duplay pointed me out,—“it was Réné, a good young man, a staunch patriot, and a friend of M. Drouet de St. Menehould, who, you know, arrested the King; it was Réné who came and announced the massacre on the Champ de Mars. We have but one bond to the Jacobins, and, as I belong to the club——”

50“Ah, I now recognise you,” said Robespierre.

51“Then it was decided to go and fetch you.”

52“And I arrived just in time to see the gates shut. Not wishing to return home, at the bottom of the Marais, I was going to get a little shelter at the house of Pétion, who lives in the Faubourg St. Honoré. You came across me on my road, and brought me here. I ask permission to remain here all night. Surrounded by the spies of Lafayette, and satellites of Bailly, the life of an honest man runs great danger. I do not fear death, but my ambition is to die in a way useful to my country.”

53I assisted at this scene without the slightest emotion. It seemed to me a great honor to address this great man.

54“Then,” said he, “you are the friend of the Citizen Drouet?”

55“He cared for me like a father,” said I. “The little I know I owe to him and to Rousseau.”

56“Ah, young man, you have Rousseau?”

57“I know him by heart.”

58“Good master—great master! I, also, was his scholar, and I hope to do him credit one of these days.”

59Duplay and his wife listened with their mouths open, nearly on their knees.

60For some time, Duplay seemed as if he wished to ask a question. His wife and he had exchanged two or three significant glances.

61“Would the Citizen Robespierre do us the honor of supping with us?”

62“I would not trouble you so much,” said Robespierre. “And then, again, my sister would be anxious.”

63“But you were going to sup with the Citizen Pétion.”

64“Yes; but from Pétion’s I could have let my sister know.”

65“Very well; she can be informed from here as well.”

66“Have you any person certain?”

67“There is me, citizen,” said I.

68“Would you have that kindness?”

69“I will be only too happy to render this service to M. Duplay.”

70“Then have the goodness to give me pen, ink, and paper.”

71The two young girls brought him the pen and paper.

72He wrote, in a small hand, the following:—

73“My Sister,—

74“Don’t be uneasy. I am in safety.

75“Your brother,

76“Maximilian.”

77He then sealed his letter, and wrote the address in a bold hand, which reminded me greatly of his character,—

78To Mdlle. Charlotte de Robespierre.

79No. 7 Rue Saintange

80At the Marais.

81I took the letter, and went on my mission.