Haven't I told you so? Haven't I told you
that I would gladly go among them with my club, and crack them
like so many -- fleas?"
"Why not, then?"
"Why not? Because I should get myself hanged. Haven't I said so?"
"But what of that - being a patriot? Why not, like another Curtius,
jump into the gulf, since you believe that your country would
benefit by your death?"
M. Danton showed signs of exasperation. "Because my country will
benefit more by my life."
"Permit me, monsieur, to suffer from a similar vanity."
"You? But where would be the danger to you? You would do your
work under the cloak of duelling - as they do."
"Have you reflected, monsieur, that the law will hardly regard a
fencing-master who kills his opponent as an ordinary combatant,
particularly if it can be shown that the fencing-master himself
provoked the attack?"
"So! Name of a name!" M. Danton blew out his cheeks and delivered
himself with withering scorn. "It comes to this, then: you are
afraid!"
"You may think so if you choose - that I am afraid to do slyly and
treacherously that which a thrasonical patriot like yourself is
afraid of doing frankly and openly.
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