CHAPTER XX: Triumph.
The day that Citizen Chauvelin's letter was received by the members of the Committee of Public Safety was indeed one of great rejoicing.
The Moniteur tells us that in the Seance of September 22nd, 1793, or Vendemiaire 1st of the Year I.it was decreed that sixty prisoners, not absolutely proved guilty of treason against the Republic--only suspected--were to be set free.
Sixty!...

at the mere news of the possible capture of the Scarlet Pimpernel.
The Committee was inclined to be magnanimous.

Ferocity yielded for the moment to the elusive joy of anticipatory triumph.
A glorious prize was about to fall into the hands of those who had the welfare of the people at heart.
Robespierre and his decemvirs rejoiced, and sixty persons had cause to rejoice with them.

So be it! There were plans evolved already as to national fetes and wholesale pardons when that impudent and meddlesome Englishman at last got his deserts.
Wholesale pardons which could easily be rescinded afterwards.

Even with those sixty it was a mere respite.