gathered round her, he listened to her conversation in astonishment. So did Riouffe, one of the famous twelve, he who had dragged his bleeding feet across the Landes of Brittany, and had since then been incarcerated. Months of confinement had not quenched Madame Roland's enthusiasm nor impaired the beauty of her appearance. Her large dark eyes still flashed and softened with every changing emotion. Her complexion still retained its brilliancy. Comte Beugnot says he found an ever-fresh charm in listening to her, quite as much owing to her captivating manner as to the things she said. They completely differed in their politics, and the passion with which she defended her own views gave him the impression "that she had inspired her whole party with that vehement partisanship which had helped not a little to stir up hatred and set others against them." Riouffe describes her conversation as a happy blending of womanly charm with a great man's energy.
But whatever the differences of opinion, everybody loved Madame Roland, everybody desired her acquittal when she was called to appear before her judges. Comte Beugnot, entrusted with a message for her, lay in wait till she appeared in the passage where she stood at the grate until she should be called. She was dressed with great care that day, and appeared more animated than usual. "Her complexion was exquisite," writes Beugnot; "a smile hovered round her lips. She was holding up the train of her dress with one hand, her other one having been seized by a crowd of women pressing round her to kiss it. Those better acquainted with the fate awaiting her were sobbing, and commended her to Providence. No one can picture this scene unless he had seen it." But we do see it; we
