Why so much ceremony in shortening the days of wretches whom the people have already condemned ?" Care is especially taken not to let them have a chance to speak.

The eloquence of Vergniaud and logic of Guadet might turn the tables at the last moment.

Consequently, a prompt decree authorizes the tribunal to stop proceedings as soon as the jury becomes sufficiently enlightened, which is the case after the seventh session of the court, the record of death suddenly greeting the accused, who are not allowed to defend themselves.
One of them, Valaze, stabs himself in open court, and the next day the national head-chopper strikes off the remaining twenty heads in thirty-eight minutes .-- Still more expeditious are the proceedings against the accused who avoid a trial.

Gorsas, seized in Paris on the 8th of October, is guillotined the same day.

Birotteau, seized at Bordeaux, on the 24th of October, mounts the scaffold within twenty-four hours.