A gust of passion swept through his soul, such as would have made another man call for the death of this defiant youth who had withstood his entreaties.

But such was Robespierre's wonderful command of self, such was his power of making his inclinations subservient to the ends he had in view that he had but risen to voice a fresh appeal.
He demanded that the sentence should be passed with the reservation that the accused should have twenty-four hours for reflection.

Should he at the end of that time be disposed to tell them where the ci-devant Vicomte d'Ombreval was to be found, let them reconsider his case.

On the other hand, should he still continue obdurate by the noon of to-morrow, then let the sentence be consummated.
There was some demur, but Robespierre swept it fiercely aside with patriotic arguments.

La Boulaye was a stout servant of the Nation, whom it must profit France to let live that he might serve her; Ombreval was a base aristocrat, whose death all true Republicans should aim at encompassing.