On that day, an eye-witness[64] came to Mathieu Dumas and
told him that, the evening before, in Barras' house, they discussed
the slaughter or transportation to Cayenne of about forty members of
the two Councils, and that the second measure was adopted. On which a
commandant of the National Guard, having led Dumas at night into the
Tuileries garden, showed him his men concealed behind the trees, armed
and ready to march at the first signal. He is to possess himself at
once of the Luxembourg (palace)[65] which is badly guarded, and put an
end to Barras and Reubell on the spot: in war one kills so as not to
be killed, and, when the enemy takes aim, you have the right to fire
without waiting. "Only," says the commandant, "promise me that you
will state in the tribune that you ordered this attack, and give me
your word of honor."[66] Mathieu Dumas refuses, simply because he is
a man of honor. "You were a fool," Napoleon afterwards said to him in
this connection, "you know nothing about revolutions." - In effect,
honor, loyalty, horror of blood, respect for the law, such are the
weak points of the party.
The opposite sentiments form the strong points of the other party.
Pages:
962
963
964
965
966
967
968
969
970
971
972
973
974
975
976
977
978
979
980
981
982
983
984
985
986