Below these comes the Committee of General
Security, Vadier, Amar, Vouland, Guffroy, Panis, David, Jagot and the
rest, those who undertook, reported on, and acted in behalf of
universal proscription. All these bear the imprint of their service;
they could be recognized by "their pallid hue, hollow and bloodshot
eyes,"[48] habits of omnipotence stamped "on their brows, and on their
deportment, something indescribably haughty and disdainful. The
Committee of General Security reminded one of the former lieutenants
of police, and the Committee of Public Safety, of the former ministers
of state." In the Convention, "it is considered an honor to talk with
them, and a privilege to shake hands with them; one seems to read
one's duty on their brows." On the days on which their orders are to
be converted into laws "the members of the Committee and the reporter
of the bill, keep people waiting, the same as the heads and
representatives of the former sovereign power; on their way to the
Assembly hall, they are preceded by a group of courtiers who seem to
announce the masters of the world."[49] - In fact, they reign - but
observe on what conditions.
"Make no complaints," said Bar?re,[50] to the composer of an opera,
the performance of which had just been suspended: "as times go, you
must not attract public attention.
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