In another moment the four commissioners stood before him. Three of the men were unknown to him, but the fourth was Gardin. The latter, as spokesman, stood a little in advance of the others. On his face there was a look of mingled insolence and triumph.
Tournay's gorge rose at sight of the man, but remembering that he was the recognized emissary from the committee he controlled his impulse to kick him from the tent.
"Will you be seated, citizens?" he said, rising and addressing his remark more to the three commissioners who were not known to him than to Gardin. "Orderly, bring seats."
"Our business with you will be of such short duration that we shall have no need to sit down," answered Gardin curtly.
"Orderly, do not bring the seats," was Tournay's quick order, as he resumed his former place on a camp-chair and sat carelessly looking at the four men standing before him. This placed Gardin in just the opposite rôle from that he had intended to assume. He saw his mistake at once, and hastened to recover his lost ground.
"Citizen colonel," he said, drawing a paper from his pocket and putting it in Tournay's hands, "here is a document from the committee which even you cannot question. It is addressed to Robert Tournay."
Tournay broke the large red seal of the letter and read:—
Citizen Colonel Robert Tournay; with the Army of the Moselle, Citizen General Lazare Hoche commanding:—
The Citizen Colonel Tournay is hereby summoned to appear before the Committee of Public Safety to answer charges affecting his patriotism and loyalty to the Republic. He will resign his command at once, and return to Paris in the company of the four commissioners who bring him this document.
Signed: For the Committee of Public Safety,
Couthon,
St. Just.This 5th Pluviose, the year II. of the French Republic one and indivisible.
When he had finished reading the document Tournay folded it carefully and placed it in his pocket.
"Well?" demanded Gardin impatiently.