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consented to it； those who executed it are； to my mind； deserving of the same reprobation。〃
I wish I could give you an idea； madame； of the tone and expression of Sallenauve as he uttered this anathema。 You know how his face is transfigured when an ardent thought comes into his mind。 The assemblage was mute and gloomy。 Evidently he had wounded their sensibilities； but； under the curb of his powerful hand； it dared not throw up its head。
〃But；〃 he continued； 〃to all consummated and irreparable crimes there are two issues；repentance and expiation。 His repentance Danton did not utter；he was too proud a man；but he /acted/ it。 He was the first； to the sound of that axe falling without pity and without respite；the first； at the risk of his own head being the next victim；to call for a 'committee of mercy。' It was the sure； the infallible means of bringing him to expiation； and you all know whether； when that day of expiation came； he quailed before it。 Passing through death；won by his courageous effort to stop the effusion of blood；it may be truly said that the face and the memory of Danton have washed off the bloody stain which September put upon them。 Committed； at the age of thirty…five； to the judgment of posterity； Danton has left us the memory of a great intellect； a strong and powerful character； noble private qualities； more than one generous action；all derived from his own being； whereas the bloody errors he committed were the contagion of his epoch。 In a word； with men of his quality； unjust would be the justice which does not temper itself with mercy。 And here； messieurs； you have in your midstbetter than you； better than I； better than all orators and historiansa woman who has weighed and understood Danton； and who says to the pitiless； with the impulse of her charity； 'He has gone to God； let us pray for him。'〃
The trap thus avoided by this happy allusion to Mother Marie…des… Anges； and the assembly evidently satisfied； it might be supposed that the candidate had come to the end of his baiting。 The colonel was even preparing to pass to the vote； when several electors sprang up； declaring that two important explanations were still required from the candidate。 He had said that he should ever be found an obstacle to all attempts of the royal power to subvert our institutions。 What did he mean by such resistance？ Was it armed resistance； the resistance of riots and barricades？
〃Barricades；〃 replied Sallenauve； 〃have nearly always seemed to me machines which turned of themselves and crushed the men who raised them。 We must believe that in the nature of riots there is something which serves the interests of the government； for I have invariably heard the police accused of inciting them。 My resistance； that which I spoke of； will ever be a legal resistance； pursued by legal means； by the press； by the tribune； and with patience；that great force granted to the oppressed and to the vanquished。〃
If you knew Latin； madame； I should say to you； /In cauda venenum/； which means； 〃In the tail of the serpent is its venom；〃a remark of antiquity which modern science does not admit。 Monsieur de l'Estorade was not mistaken； Sallenauve's private life was destined to be ransacked； and； no doubt under the inspiration of the virtuous Maxime de Trailles； the second question put to our friend was about the handsome Italian woman said to be /hidden/ by him in his house in Paris。
Sallenauve showed no embarrassment at being thus interpellated。 He merely asked whether the assembly would think proper to spend its time in listening to a romantic story in which there was no scandal。
But here comes Sallenauve himself； he tells me that the electoral college is formed in a manner that leaves little doubt of his election。 I leave my pen to him； to tell you the romantic tale； already； I believe； interrupted on several occasions。 He will close this letter。
XVIII
CHARLES DE SALLENAUVE TO THE COMTESSE DE L'ESTORADE
7 P。M。
Madame；The rather abrupt manner in which I parted from you and Monsieur de l'Estorade the evening of our visit to Armand's school； has been explained to you by the preoccupations of all sorts to which at that moment I was a victim。 Marie…Gaston tells me that he has kept you informed of the subsequent events。
I acknowledge that in the restless and agitated state of mind in which I then was； the sort of belief which Monsieur de l'Estorade appeared to give to the scandal which he mentioned caused me great displeasure and some surprise。 How； thought I； is it possible that a man of Monsieur de l'Estorade's morality and intellect can /a priori/ suppose me capable of such disorder； when he sees me anxious to give to my life all the weight and consideration which the respect of others alone can bestow？ Only a few moments before this painful conversation I had been on the point of making you a confidence which would； I presume； have protected me against the unfortunate impression which Monsieur de l'Estorade conveyed to your mind。 As for Monsieur de l'Estorade himself； I was； I confess； so annoyed at seeing the careless manner in which he made himself the echo of a calumny against which I felt he ought rather to have defended me that I did not /deign/ to make any explanation to him。 I now withdraw that word； but it was then the true expression of a displeasure keenly felt。
In the course of my electoral contest； I have been obliged to make public the justification I did not make to you； and I have had the satisfaction of finding that men in masses are more capable than individuals of understanding generous impulses and of distinguishing the honest language of truth。 Here are the facts which I related； but more briefly and with less detail； to my electors。
A few months before my departure from Rome； I was in a cafe frequented by the pupils of the Academy； when an Italian musician； named Benedetto； came in； as he usually did every evening。 Nominally he was a musician and a tolerable one； but we had been warned that he was also a spy of the Roman police。 However that might be； he was very amusing； and as we cared nothing for the police； we not only endured but we encouraged his visits；which was not hard to do in view of his passion for /poncio spongato/ and /spuma di latte/。
On his entrance one evening； a member of our party asked him who was the woman with whom he had met him that morning。
〃My wife； signore；〃 answered the Italian。
〃Yours； Benedetto！you the husband of such a beauty！〃
〃Si； signore。〃
〃Nonsense！ you are ugly and drunken； and people say you are police spy； but she； on the contrary； is as handsome as Diana the huntress。〃
〃I charmed her with my talent； she adores me。〃
〃Well； if she is your wife； make her pose to our friend here； Dorlange； who wants a model for his Pandora。 He can't get a finer one。〃
〃That can be managed；〃 replied the Italian。
The next day I was in my studio in company with several young painters and sculptors when Benedetto came in accompanied by a woman of rare beauty； whom I need not describe； for you have seen her； madame； at my house。 A joyous hurrah greeted the Italian； who said to me；
〃/Ecco la Pandora/！ Hey！ what do you think of her？〃
〃Marvellous