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cheer to excess。 Each wants to escort the prisoner； the cab of Mathon
de la Varenne is invaded； 〃they perch themselves on the driver's seat；
at the doors； on top； and behind。〃＇96＇ … A few even display strange
fits of tact。 Two of the butchers； still covered with blood； who lead
the chevalier de Bertrand home； insist on going up stairs with him to
witness the joy of his family； after their terrible task they need the
relaxation of tender emotion。 On entering； they wait discreetly in
the drawing…room until the ladies have been prepared； the happiness of
which they are witnesses melts them； they remain some time； refuse
money； expressing their gratitude and depart。＇97＇ Still more
extraordinary are the vestiges of innate politeness。 A market…porter
desirous of embracing a discharged prisoner； first asks his
permission。 Old 〃hags；〃 who had just clapped their hands at the
slaughtering； stop the guards 〃violently〃 as they hurry Weber along；
in white silk stockings； across pools of blood： 〃Hey； guard； look out；
you are making Monsieur walk in the gutter！〃＇98＇ In short； they
display the permanent qualities of their race and class； they seem to
be neither above nor below the average of their brethren； Most of
them； probably； would never have done anything very monstrous had a
rigid police； like that which maintains order in ordinary times； kept
them in their shops or at home in their lodgings or in their tap…
rooms。
But； in their own eyes； they are so many kings； 〃sovereignty is
committed to their hands；〃＇99＇ their powers are unlimited； whoever
doubts this is a traitor； and is properly punished； he must be put out
of the way； while； for royal councillors； they take maniacs and
rascals； who； through monomania or calculation； have preach all that
to them： just like a Negro king surrounded by white slave…dealers； who
urge him into raids； and by black sorcerers； who prompt him to
massacre。 How could such a man with such guides； and in such an
office； be retarded by the formalities of justice； or by the
distinctions of equity？ Equity and justice are the elaborate products
of civilization； while he is merely a political savage。 In vain are
the innocent recommended to his mercy！
〃Look here； citizen；＇100＇ do you； too； want to put us to sleep？
Suppose that those cursed Prussian and Austrian beggars were in Paris；
would they pick out the guilty？ Wouldn't they strike right and left；
the same as the Swiss did on the 10th of August？ Very well； I can't
make speeches； but I don't put anybody to sleep。 I say； I am the
father of a family I have a wife and five children that I mean to
leave here for the section to look after； while I go and fight the
enemy。 But I have no intention that while I am gone these villains
here in prison； and other villains who would come and let them out；
should cut the throats of my wife and children。 I have three boys who
I hope will some day be more useful to their country than those
rascals you want to save。 Anyhow； all that can be done is to let 'em
out and give them arms； and we will fight 'em on an equal footing。
Whether I die here or on the frontiers； scoundrels would kill me all
the same； and I will sell my life dearly。 But； whether it is done by
me or by someone else； the prison shall be cleaned out of those cursed
beggars； there； now！〃 At this a general cry is heard： 〃He's right！ No
mercy！ Let us go in！〃
All that the crowd assent to is an improvised tribunal； the reading of
the jailer's register； and prompt judgment； condemnation and slaughter
must follow； according to the famous Commune； which simplifies things
There is another simplification still more formidable； which is the
condemnation and slaughter by categories。 Any title suffices； Swiss；
priest； officer； or servant of the King； 〃the 'worms' on the civil
list〃； wherever a lot of priests or Swiss are found； it is not worth
while to have a trial； the throats of the lot can be slit。 Reduced
to this； the operation is adapted to the operators； the arms of the
new sovereign are as strong as his mind is weak； and； through an
inevitable adaptation； he degrades his work to the level of his
faculties。
His work； in its turn； degrades and perverts him。 No man； and
especially a man of the people； rendered pacific by an old
civilization； can； with impunity； become at one stroke both sovereign
and executioner。 In vain does he work himself up against the condemned
and heap insults on them to augment his fury；＇101＇ I he is dimly
conscious of committing a great crime； and his soul； like that of
Macbeth； 〃is full of scorpions。〃 Through a terrible tightening up； he
hardens himself against the inborn； hereditary impulses of humanity；
these resist while he becomes exasperated； and； to stifle them； there
is no other way but to 〃gorge himself on horrors；〃＇102＇ by adding
murder to murder。 For murder； especially as he practices it； that is
to say； with a naked sword on defense…less people； introduces into his
animal and moral machine two extraordinary and disproportionate
emotions which unsettle it； on the one hand； a sensation of
omnipotence exercised uncontrolled； unimpeded； without danger； on
human life； on throbbing flesh＇103＇ and； on the other hand； an
interest in bloody and diversified death； accompanied with an ever new
series of contortions and exclamations；＇104＇ formerly； in the Roman
circus； one could not tear one's self away from it； the spectacle once
seen； the spectator always returned to see it again。 Just at this time
each prison court is a circus； and what makes it worse is that the
spectators are likewise actors。 Thus； for them； two fiery liquids
mingle together in one draught。 To moral intoxication is added
physical intoxication； wine in profusion； bumpers at every pause；
revelry over corpses； and we see rising out of this unnatural creature
the demon of Dante； at once brutal and refined； not merely a
destroyer； but； again； an executioner； instigator and calculator of
suffering； and radiant and joyous over the evil it accomplishes。
They are merry； they dance around each new corpse； and sing the
carmagnole；＇105＇ they arouse the people of the quarter 〃to amuse
them；〃 and that they may have their share of 〃the fine fête。〃＇106＇
Benches are arranged for 〃gentlemen〃 and others for 〃ladies〃： the
latter； with greater curiosity； are additionally anxious to
contemplate at their ease 〃the aristocrats〃 already slain；
consequently； lights are required； and one is placed on the breast of
each corpse。 Meanwhile； the slaughter continues； and is carried to
perfection。 A butcher at the Abbaye＇107＇ complains that 〃the
aristocrats die too quick； and that those only who strike first have
the pleasure of it〃； henceforth they are to be struck with the backs
of the swords only； and made to run between two rows of their
butchers； like soldiers formerly running a gauntlet。 If there happens
to be well…known person； it is agreed to take more care in prolonging
the torment。 At La Force； the Federates who come for M。 de Rulhières
swear 〃with frightful imprecations that they will cut the head of
anyone daring to end his sufferings with a thrust of his pike〃； the
first thing is to strip him naked； and then； for half an hour； with
the flat of their sabers； they cut and slash him until he drips with
blood and is 〃skinned to his entrails。〃 All the monstrous instincts
who grovels chained up in the dregs of the human heart； not only
cruelty with its bared fangs；＇108＇ but also the slimier desires； unite
in fury against women whose noble or infamous repute makes them
conspicuous； against Madame de Lamballe； the Queen's friend； against
Madame Desrues； widow of the famous poisoner； against the flower…girl
of the Palais…Royal； who； two years before； had mutilated her lover； a
French guardsman； in a fit of jealousy。 Ferocity here is associated
with lewdness to add debasement to torture； while life is violated
through