"What does that matter?" cried Danton. "When priests are good they are better than other men. In time of revolution priests are melted into citizens, just as bells are melted into sous and cannon. Danjou and Danon are both priests. Thomas Lindet is Bishop of Évreux. At the Convention, Robespierre, you sit side by side with Massieu, Bishop of Beauvais. The Vicar-General Vaugeois belonged to the Insurrection Committee of the 10th of August. Chabot is a capuchin. Dom Gerle devised the oath of the Tennis-Court. The Abbé Audran declared the National Assembly superior to the king; the Abbé Goutte asked the Legislature to remove the daïs from the chair of Louis XVI., and the Abbé Grégoire instigated the abolition of royalty."
"A motion seconded by the comedian Collot d'Herbois. They two did the business; the priest overturned the throne, the comedian deposed the king!"
"Let us return to the Vendée," said Robespierre.
"Well, what is it?" asked Cimourdain; "what is the Vendée doing now?"
"This," replied Robespierre. "It has found a leader; it will become terrible."
"Who is this leader, citizen Robespierre?"
"He is a ci-devant Marquis de Lantenac, who styles himself a Breton prince."
Cimourdain made a movement.
"I know him," he said. "I was chaplain at his house."
He reflected for a moment, and then continued: