The chapter opens with a quote from Félicité de Genlis commenting that, “a pretty, intelligent woman who has original ideas should have a life full of extraordinary events” (280). It continues with a first-person account from the perspective of Gabrielle Danton.

In January, Danton is elected to the local government, the Commune. Marat is arrested for sedition and held on house arrest. Marat proclaims he wants the country to be run by Danton and Robespierre. Danton challenges the Assembly’s authority and uses his Cordeliers troops to facilitate Marat’s escape.

May 1790, Gabrielle gives birth to a son, Antoine. Danton’s mother, Madame Recordain, arrives from Arcis to “help,” but she only criticizes everything. During the following months, Danton is consumed with Commune work. Gabrielle wonders how he is earning a living. Danton establishes the Cordeliers Club, a more democratic form of the Jacobin Club. On the wall of the club is their slogan: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. Gabrielle is a royalist and a devout Catholic. She is troubled by her husband’s republican politics.

In July, there is a rally in Paris to celebrate the fall of the Bastille. Danton refuses to attend because “he couldn’t stand to see the people kiss Lafayette’s boots” (289). That day, Lucile comes over to complain she and Camille are not yet married. Camille moves to an apartment around the corner from the Danton family. One day, a playwright called Collot comes to dinner. Gabrielle comments that she does not like the man, and Danton dismisses her opinion as “a typical feminine remark” (292). Later, when Camille voices the same opinion about Collot, Danton “meekly” agrees with him.

The chapter continues with entries from Lucile’s personal journal written in the first person. She is concerned about the hatred and violence Camille faces. She believes that her sister, Adèle, and Robespierre will soon be married. She wonders how Adèle will handle the death threats Robespierre receives.

The chapter continues in limited third person from Robespierre’s perspective. He is suffering from shortness of breath and declining eyesight. It makes it hard for him to read The Social Contract by Rousseau, which he always keeps with him.

Camille begins to write invectives against Mirabeau, who wants a constitutional monarchy, not a republic. He becomes closer to Robespierre. Louis Suleau, who had attended school with Camille and Robespierre, returns to Paris and writes for “a royalist scandal-sheet” (299). He tells Camille that his motto is “Liberty, Gaiety, Royal Democracy” (299). Antoine Saint-Just, Camille’s cousin, also returns to Paris. He is more zealous about republicanism than Camille and they argue.

The Assembly announces that members of the clergy must swear an oath to be loyal to the new constitution. Many refuse. Danton tells Lucile that the philosophy of the revolution is to “grab what you can” (303).

In December, Claude consents to let Lucile marry Camille. Camille meets with a priest at Saint-Suplice before the wedding. Camille refuses to declare he is a believer, and the priest refuses to officiate. Robespierre suggests Father Bérardier, who worked at Collège Louis-le-Grand, although he is an unsworn priest. Camille tells Bérardier he will publish a profession of faith in his newspaper in exchange for Bérardier officiating the wedding. Lucile and Camille move in around the corner from the Danton’s apartment.

In 1791, the Queen’s brother attempts to garner support for an invasion of France to put an end to the revolution, but the other European powers largely refuse to intervene. The royal family is stripped of their titles by the Assembly. King Louis XVI becomes Louis Capet. Camille and Lucile settle into their new apartment. Robespierre comes over and tells Camille he needs a speech written for that afternoon. Lucile tells Robespierre he is being bossy, and Robespierre is “defensive, distressed.”

Mirabeau meets with Danton and attempts to pin down his political beliefs. Danton is evasive. Mirabeau says Danton will be made a city administrator, but Mirabeau wants him to be moderate. Danton agrees.

Professional mistress Caroline Rémy goes to Camille and Lucile’s apartment. After she leaves, Lucile asks Camille if he has had sex with her. He replies that he probably has. Lucile begins to grow annoyed, so to distract her, Camille takes her to the theater for the evening.

Madame Roland, the wife of a civil servant, goes to the National Assembly to observe the negotiations. She tells Brissot she is shocked at how disorderly the proceedings are. She manages much of her husband’s governmental work as his de facto secretary. She announces she is starting a salon.

Danton meets with Mirabeau in March. Mirabeau reports that his health is failing. He dies March 27. Camille is devastated; they had grown close and Mirabeau provided financial support for his newspaper. He goes to Robespierre for comfort. Robespierre tells Camille he will not marry Adèle because “[he] might have to make sacrifices for the sake of the Revolution,” including “die” (338) and he does not want to burden Adèle with this.

On June 10, 1791, Robespierre is elected Public Prosecutor.

To avoid controversy over his choice of a “refractory,” or unsworn, priest for Easter Sunday, the King decides to do a private ceremony at the smaller chateau in Saint-Cloud, to the west of Paris. Lafayette wants to protect the royal family’s travel from the Tuileries to Saint-Cloud. Danton refuses to permit it. Lafayette attempts to resign, but Danton forbids it. The royal family is prevented by a mob from leaving the Tuileries Palace, signaling that they are effectively captives.

In June, the royal family flees Paris. Danton blames Lafayette for letting them escape the palace. Danton gives a speech at the Cordeliers club calling for the formation of a republic and the abolition of the monarchy. The Duke of Orléans wishes to take advantage of the chaos to usurp the throne, but he is dissuaded by his mistress. Laclos proposes a coup attempt to Danton and Camille. He suggests the people sign a petition calling for the downfall of the king. They will then deliver it to the Assembly, by force if necessary. They should act on July 17, during the celebrations for the anniversary of the taking of the Bastille.

The royal family is captured and returned to Paris. Louise Robert’s husband, François Robert, is arrested for assisting in their escape.

Danton and Camille plan their assault on the Assembly to force the king’s deposition. The Jacobins and Robespierre refuse to support the extralegal action. Lafayette’s soldiers, the National Guard, will fight against the people’s militias. The evening before the coup, Gabrielle waits anxiously for her husband to come to bed. She is pregnant again. Camille arranges François Robert’s release from prison in exchange for Robert taking the petition for the deposition of the king to the Assembly. He reluctantly agrees.

On July 17, Gabrielle begs Danton to call off the petition, but he refuses. Tensions are high in the city. During the Bastille celebrations, a shot is fired on the Champs-de-Mars. The National Guard panics and 50 people are killed. Danton and Camille flee to Gabrielle’s parents’ house in Fontenay-sous-Bois. Gabrielle is hysterical with panic. Camille returns to Paris to address the Jacobins, which have splintered between right- and left-wing factions over this coup, and to find Robespierre. Privately, Danton and Camille discuss fleeing to England, but Camille refuses to leave the country.

Meanwhile, Robespierre is almost captured by the National Guard when he is saved by a carpenter named Duplay. Duplay shelters Robespierre in his house. Danton and Gabrielle flee to Arcis and then to England. Camille flees to Versailles.

The next day, the National Guard go to Gabrielle’s parents’ house in Fontenay-sous-Bois to arrest Danton. They kill Gabrielle’s brother, Victor, having mistaken him for Danton.