'"A greedy woman denounced me. Could not I denounce her in turn?"
"Mort du diable! that is a fine idea—to let the denounced also denounce. It would make things move. I will mention that to Couthon." The half of the face that was able to express emotion manufactured a look of ferocious mirth; but it was clear that he took the proposition seriously.
"It appears that we do not go fast enough, citizen," said François. "In April, 257; in May, so far, only 308. So say the gazettes. What if we denounce Citizens Robespierre and Vadier? We might go faster. Let us denounce everybody, and, last, the devil."
Amar set an elbow on the table, and, with his chin in his hand, considered this novel specimen of humanity.
"AMAR CONSIDERED THIS NOVEL SPECIMEN OF HUMANITY."
François had a controlling idea that what chance of safety there was lay in complete abandonment to the natural recklessness of his ever-dominant mood of humor.
"Art thou at the end of thy nonsense, idiot?" said the Jacobin.
"Not quite; the citizen might denounce himself."
"By all the saints! Art making a jest of me—me, Jean Pierre Amar? Thou must value thy head but little."