Here was an obstacle upon which he had not counted when he had passed his word to Suzanne to effect the release of her betrothed.

At all costs he must gain it, he told himself, and to that end he now set himself to plead, advancing, as his only argument--but advancing it with a fervour that added to its weight--that he stood pledged to save the ci-devant Vicomte.

Robespierre looked up at him with a shade of polite regret upon his cadaverous face, and with polite regret he deplored that Caron should have so bound himself.
So absorbed were they, the one in pleading, the other in resisting, that neither noticed the opening of the door, nor yet the girl who stood observing them from the threshold.
"If this man dies," cried La Boulaye at last, "I am dishonoured.
"It is regrettable," returned Robespierre, "that you should have pledged your word in the matter.

You will confess, Caron, that it was a little precipitate.

Enfin," he ended, crumpling the document he had signed and tossing it under the table, "you must extricate yourself as best you can.