Hérault. Hm! You're well up in your authors!
Lucile. What of it? Every one knows La Pucelle.
Danton. You are right, my dear. It is the breviary of good women.
Hérault. Did you ever recite it to Robespierre?
Lucile. I'd never dare.
Camille. Did you ever see him when some one told a nasty story in his presence? His brow contracts; he clasps his hands, he makes faces like a monkey with the tooth-ache.
Hérault. He inherits that from his father, and gets his hatred of Voltaire from Rousseau.
Lucile [astonished]. What! Is he Rousseau's son?
Hérault [jokingly]. Didn't you know?
Danton. Jesuit nonsense! He's more corrupt than the rest. He who slinks off to have his pleasures, usually has very poor morals.
Philippeaux. Possibly, but if Robespierre loves pleasure he hides it effectively; and he is right, Danton. You parade your pleasures too much. You would sacrifice your fortune for a night at the Palais-Royal.
Danton. Because I prefer good fortune to bad.
Philippeaux. Meantime, you are compromising yourself. Public opinion is quick to judge you. And what will posterity say when it learns that Danton, on the eve of a decisive struggle for the State, thought only of pleasure?
Danton. I don't give a damn about public opinion;
