pleasure. It seems to me that he is the only musician who makes perfect harmony; for his practice is in accord with his theory, not according to the Jacobin or Genevese fashion, but the French, which alone deserves the name of Republican harmony. When such a man speaks to me, he fills me with joy, and no one doubts that I am drunk with his talk. But he who sings of a virtue which he practises not, cruelly afflicts me, and the better he appears to speak, the greater aversion do I feel for music.'" [Desmoulins turns his back on Robespierre, who rises, without a word or a gesture, and starts to go. Lucile, who is concerned at the turn in the conversation, and who keeps her eyes fastened on Robespierre, takes his hand and tries to pass off the matter as a joke.]
Lucile [pointing to Camille]. He must always be contradicting, the naughty boy! If you only knew how angry he makes me sometimes! Dear Maximilien, you two are always the same. You used to argue like that when you were at school in Arras. [Robespierre, with a glacial look, does not answer, but starts for the door.]
Danton [goes toward Robespierre—with true sincerity]. Robespierre, we are all three of us in the wrong. Let us be men, submitting only to reason, and let us sacrifice our petty quarrels for the good of the nation. See, I come to you, I offer you my hand. Forgive my impatience.
Robespierre. Danton believes a word can make up for his insults. It is easy for the offender to forget.
Danton. Perhaps I do wrong in offering to be generous to my enemies, but the Republic demands it.
