spatter us in the streets; bread is worth three francs, twelve sous for four pounds, the theatres play immoral pieces, and Robespierre will have Danton guillotined."
"Ugh!" said Danton.
Robespierre examined the map attentively.
"What we need," cried Marat, abruptly, "is a dictator. Robespierre, you know that I want a dictator."
Robespierre raised his head.
"I know, Marat, either you or me."
"I or you," said Marat.
Danton muttered, between his teeth,—
"The dictatorship, try it!"
Marat saw Danton's frown.
"Wait," he added. "One last effort. Let us come to some agreement. The situation is worth the trouble. Haven't we already come to an agreement about the thirty-first of May? The question as a whole is more serious than Girondism, which is a question of detail. There is truth in what you say; but the truth, the whole truth, the real truth, is what I say. In the South, Federalism; in the West, Royalism; in Paris, the duel of the Convention and the Commune; on the frontiers, the retreat of Custine, and the treason of Dumouriez. What does it all amount to? Dismemberment. What do we need? Union. Our safety lies in that; but we must make haste. Paris must take the management of the Revolution. If we lose an hour, the Vendéans may be at Orleans, and the Prussians in Paris to-morrow. I grant you this, Danton; I yield that to you, Robespierre. So be it. Well, the conclusion is the dictatorship. Let us take the dictatorship, and let us three represent the Revolution. We are the three heads of Cerberus. Of these three heads, one speaks, that is you, Robespierre; the other roars, that is you, Danton——"
"The other bites," said Danton; "that is you, Marat."
"All three bite," said Robespierre.
There was a silence. Then the conversation, full of portentous repartees, began again.
"Listen, Marat; before marrying, we must become acquainted. How did you know what I said yesterday to Saint-Just?"
"That concerns me, Robespierre."
"Marat!"
