The conspirators figured as victims, and constantly kept popular excitement on the rack, by imaginary stories of the most odious persecutions.
XVII.
"See," wrote Desmoulins, "see how the furious satellites of La Fayette rush from their barracks, or rather from their taverns,--see, they assemble and load their arms with ball, in the presence of the people, whilst the battalions of _aristocrates_ mutually excite each other to the massacre.

It is chiefly in the eyes of the cavalry that you behold the love of blood aroused by the double influence of wine and vengeance.
It was against women and babes that this army of butchers chiefly directed their fury.

The altar of the country is strewn with dead bodies,--it is thus that La Fayette has dyed his hands in the gore of citizens: those hands which, in my eyes, will ever appear to reek with this innocent blood--this very spot where he had raised them to heaven to swear to defend them.

From this moment, the most worthy citizens are proscribed; they are arrested in their beds, their papers are seized, their presses broken, and lists of the names of those proscribed are signed; the _moderes_ sign these lists, and then display them.

'Society must be purged,' is their cry, 'of such men as _Brissot_, _Carra_, _Petion_, _Bonneville_, _Freron_, _Danton_, and _Camille_.' Danton and I found safety in flight alone from our assassins.