"Always the same refrain!" he said.
"Shall I throw it in the basket, then?"
"Yes, do, for goodness' sake!"
But Duplay took the letter from Lebas's hands, twisted it into a spill, and ignited it at the candle to light his pipe.
Robespierre now rose and went towards the harpsichord, where he was received with joyous exclamations.
"Here you are at last!"
Cornélie whispered a few words to Buonarotti, and placed a new piece of music before him.
"As a reward," she said, "Buonarotti will sing you one of his latest compositions."
"And the words are by a friend of yours," added Madame Lebas, with a mysterious air.
Robespierre, puzzled, asked the name of this friend, but Victoire wished him to guess, and when he demurred a battle of words ensued, in which his stronger will prevailed.