But, while straining his gaze eastwards, he experienced a sharp rebuff.

The Committee was on the point of granting his request, when an examination of his recent conduct proved him guilty of a breach of discipline in not proceeding to his Vendean command.

On the very day when one department of the Committee empowered him to proceed to Constantinople, the Central Committee erased his name from the list of general officers (September 15th).
This time the blow seemed fatal.

But Fortune appeared to compass his falls only in order that he might the more brilliantly tower aloft.
Within three weeks he was hailed as the saviour of the new republican constitution.

The cause of this almost magical change in his prospects is to be sought in the political unrest of France, to which we must now briefly advert.
All through this summer of 1795 there were conflicts between Jacobins and royalists.