Even the fishermen and sailors were fools enough to believe it.
"But there is a great change now.

At first they approved of cutting off the heads of those who, they were told, were the cause of all misery and poverty; but when, every day, fresh prisoners were brought in, and it was not the nobles only but quiet citizens--tradesmen, manufacturers, doctors, and advocates--and every morning a score were carried out to be guillotined, men began to change their opinion; especially when they found that the more heads were cut off, the less work there was and the poorer they became.

They began to talk among themselves and, when it came to executing women and children, as well as men, they turned round altogether.
"More than once the fishermen and sailors have tried to rescue prisoners on their way to execution.

The commissioners of the republic have been hooted in the streets and, if they had had arms in their hands, our men would have turned the tables; but the town is full of troops now and, worse than all, they have enrolled this corps of volunteers, who are the terror of the place.

They have spies everywhere, and no one dares whisper a word against the commissioners or the executions for, if but two or three men are standing by, the chances are that one of them is a spy." "But surely my brother might have prevented my father's arrest, Brenon?
He was one of the leading men at that Jacobin Club." "He is still one of the leading men of the party," Brenon said gloomily.