"They are the two women from Montmorency."
"The women of the forest?"
"Yes!"
Robespierre leant back against his desk for support. Lebas pulled an armchair towards him, into which he sank quite overcome.
"You could not have prevented it!" said Lebas gently; "nowadays surprises of that sort are common enough. How could you know?"
The Incorruptible gave no reply, but seemed lost in a dream.
"Take some rest now.... You must feel exhausted.... I feel so myself.... Au revoir till to-morrow. After all, why should you worry? Are we not the masters?"
"That is the question!" murmured Robespierre, without lifting his eyes.
But Lebas had just closed the door, and wished him good night.
Robespierre, left alone, resumed his train of thought. He had, himself, then, ordered the two women to be arrested. This made everything clear to his mind! He now understood why Olivier had insulted him, and matters were more complicated than he had imagined. But what was Clarisse doing at Montmorency? How had she gained acquaintance with that man Vaughan, who had proposed to him the Regency in the name of England? For one moment he was vain enough to think that Clarisse had acted in conjunction with the Englishman. She had perhaps an idea of winning Robespierre over to the Royalist cause, and of rendering homage to his exalted position and power, realising all the good he could do. If this were indeed the fact, then she knew everything, was aware of the Englishman's proposals, and of the forest interview! She was in possession of his secret and could by a single word completely ruin him!