"A courier from Paris came in an hour ago."
Dangeau stretched out his hand, but the other held his papers close.
"There is news,—weighty news," he continued; and Dangeau felt his courage leap to meet an impending blow.
"What news?" he asked, quite quietly, hand still held out.
"You are Danton's friend?"
"As you very well know, Citizen."
Vibert flung all his papers on the table.
"You 'll be less ready to claim his friendship in the future, I take it," he said, with a sudden twang of steel in his voice. Dangeau turned frightfully pale, but the hand that reached for the letters was controlled.
"Your meaning, Citizen?"
Vibert's strident laugh rang out.