Mme Roland (“Manon”) is having an affair with Buzot, a Girondist. Danton has taken to spreading rumors about her infidelities after she commented aloud at the Riding-School that she could not understand how Gabrielle could stand to have sex with her husband, Danton. Fabre visits her to investigate her feelings about Danton, Camille, Robespierre, and their circle. Mme Roland says she disagrees with Camille that women should have the right to vote. Fabre confirms to Camille that Mme Roland is having an affair with someone, though he does not know who. Afraid her secret will be publicly revealed, Mme Roland pre-empts the disclosure by telling M. Roland of her affair. He is shocked and, after she leaves, he begins openly weeping.

Eléonore Duplay wants to marry Robespierre. She goes into his room and lies on his bed and convinces him to have sex with her. He is not very capable in bed. Later, he worries he will have to marry her if she becomes pregnant.

Camille tells Danton that Mme Roland is publicly claiming that Fabre stole the crown jewels. He urges Danton not to trust General Dumouriez. Danton dreams of leaving Paris. It is a reflection of his fear over his many vulnerabilities. Some time later, news of the French army’s victory over the Duke of Brunswick in Valmy reaches Paris.

The National Convention officially declares the French Republic. Danton and his coterie in the Convention become known as “the Mountain” because they sit in the high tier of seats on the left-hand side of the Convention chamber. The Brissotins or Girondins sit on the right-hand side of the Convention. The area between them is known as the Plain. 

Danton speaks every day at the Convention and becomes known for his passionate, stirring speeches. Louvet, a Girondin, plans to overthrow Robespierre, Danton, and Marat, known as “the Triumvirate.” The Brissotins bring in a private army in an attempt to bring them down. On October 10, Robespierre has the Brissotins expelled from the Jacobin Club. Louvet makes a speech denouncing Robespierre in the Convention for his role in the September Massacre, but Louvet is sweaty and “his voice shook a little” (551). Louvet fails to convince the assembly.

Charlotte and Augustin Robespierre come to live at the Duplay residence with Maximillien Robespierre. Charlotte is a busybody and acerbic; Maximillien asks her to leave.

On November 5, the public stands at the National Convention are full with people eager to hear Robespierre’s response to Louvet. In his speech, Robespierre refuses to apologize for the September Massacre, nor does he condemn it. Saint-Just, Camille’s cousin, lauds Robespierre for his unapologetic stance, while Camille and Danton are discomfited by Robespierre’s certainty about the justness of violence. The Duke of Orléans stops Camille from walking out in the middle of Robespierre’s speech. 

Later, Camille and Robespierre talk. Robespierre is thrilled at having overcome Louvet’s attempted attack. He asks Camille about the state of Danton and Gabrielle’s relationship. He urges Camille to urge Danton to stop having so many public affairs. Camille responds defensively; he chides Robespierre for his newfound prurience and judgmental attitude about people’s personal lives.

Later, in a section written in script rather than prose, Saint-Just upbraids Robespierre for his sentimental attachment to Camille.

Danton leaves his post as Minister of Justice, but he continues to serve as a delegate to the Convention. He dreams of leaving Paris. The Danton family and the Desmoulins leave their apartments in Place Vendôme and move back to their old apartments on rue des Cordeliers. Gabrielle’s parents have moved to Sèvres, in the west of Paris. Gabrielle is glad to be back in their old apartments, but Lucile misses the glamor of Vendôme.

Tension mounts between Camille and Saint-Just. General Dillon returns victorious from the front and begins attempting to court Lucile. Lucile reflects how everyone assumes she is unfaithful to her husband when she loves him even more now than when she married him. Camille militates for the expulsion of the Brissotins from the Convention and for trials of the King and Queen.

Camille calls on Marat. He lives with his common-law wife, Simone, and his sister, Albertine. Camille attempts to persuade Marat to join in his attack on Brissot. Camille lays out his claims that Brissot colluded with the royal family to sabotage the revolution by promoting “destructive federalist policies” (576). Camille is shaken when Marat argues that the Brissotins will have to be executed. Camille reports that Jacques Roux and the sans-culottes have taken over the Cordeliers club. Marat complains that these “ultra-revolutionaries” are violent thugs who care only about cheap bread.

Hébert, known as Le Père Duchesne, writes an article denouncing the Rolands.

In script, Danton and Robespierre discuss how their two “revolutions” have not yet changed peoples’ lives. Danton worries about Robespierre’s ever-increasing paranoia. Danton goes to the Belgian front to learn more about the war effort.



In January, Robespierre gives a speech to the Convention arguing that “Louis [XVI] must die so that the nation can live” (586).

On January 13, Fabre asks Camille why he doesn’t address the Convention more. Camille reminds him that he recently spoke arguing that the new French republic should not try to annex new territory like a monarchy. Camille notes that Fabre seems nervous. Danton is returning to Paris for the hearing of Louis XVI. Lucile notes that despite claims the hearing is for the good of “the public safety […] one never feels any safer” (590).

Danton arrives home to find a letter that shocks him. The letter-writer alleges he has written proof Danton was paid by the British Foreign Office Secret Fund and is a spy for the British Crown. It threatens to inform the President of the Convention of this if he convicts Louis XVI. Danton despairs: He feels he should have killed all the royalists when he had the chance. He refuses to give in to the blackmail. He loses control of his temper and hits Gabrielle in the face. She barely reacts at first but eventually she grows hysterical and accuses Danton of self-destructive behavior. 

Danton sends Camille to confront the former president of the Convention, who may have already received this information, while Danton goes to see a deputy called Defermon. After Danton has left, Camille tells Gabrielle that all of the allegations against Danton are true. Gabrielle says she was already aware of these schemes: She recognizes it was how he paid off the mother of his first child and how he purchased her parents’ home in Sèvres. She explains she overlooked his behavior because she was afraid Danton would divorce her. She expects Camille to understand because they are in a “common predicament,” as both Camille and Gabrielle are “in love with” Danton (598).

Danton returns home with the accusatory letter, although without the related documents. He burns the letter. He feels that he is “going downhill now” (601).

King Louis XVI is sentenced to death. That evening, a deputy, Michel Lepelletier, is stabbed to death at a restaurant. The next day, the King is guillotined.

By early February, France is at war with England, Holland, and Spain. Bread prices rise in Paris. There are counter-revolutionary riots around the country, including Paris. Danton returns to Belgium. Gabrielle goes into labor. Louise Gély is by her side. 

Gabrielle dies in labor. The infant survives but it is weak. Five days later, Danton returns home. Gabrielle has already been buried. Danton is devastated by his loss.

Robespierre writes Danton a long letter offering his condolences. Camille accompanies Danton in his grief. Danton burns Gabrielle’s journal.

In March, the French armies are defeated in Holland. In the Vendée, the counter-revolutionary riot tips into civil war. On March 8, Danton, looking harrowed with grief, gives a speech to rally morale and gain support for a new tax to support the war effort. In response, the Convention chants “septembriseur,” a reference to his role in the September Massacres, but the people rally to Danton.

Louise Gély, now age 15, waits for Danton to return home. He is surprised to see her in his apartment. A few days later, a deputy called Claude Dupin proposes to Louise. She refuses, thinking of Danton. Louise and Danton discuss Louise’s rather naïve views of the revolution and the monarchy. Danton is attracted to her. Danton returns to the Belgian front. He argues with General Dumouriez, who has closed the Jacobin clubs in Belgium. He encourages the General to write a speech to the Convention justifying his actions. 

Dumouriez informs Danton that he has had a letter from Roland, a Brissotin, urging him to use his armies to retake Paris and install the Duke of Orléans on the throne. Danton says he and Robespierre will use this letter to justify throwing Roland, Brissot, and the other Girondists out of the Convention. Dumouriez says if there was a monarchy, it would be easier to win the war, but Danton refuses to cede on his goal of creating a French republic. Dumouriez calls him an idealist.

On March 23, Danton returns to Paris. He goes to Louise Gély’s apartment and spends the day there, avoiding his official duties. She asks Danton why he had so many affairs if he loved his late wife, and he does not give a straight answer. He is shocked when he learns that his wife had thought he might divorce her. That night, he goes out drinking with Camille. The next morning, Louise talks to Camille in Danton’s apartment. Camille confesses Danton is “infatuated” with her.

That afternoon, Danton confers with Saint-Just, Robespierre, and Camille about the best course of action for handling Dumouriez. Saint-Just believes Dumouriez should be arrested for treason because of his correspondence with Roland. Danton favors a more measured approach.

Some time later, Dumouriez arrests the Minister of War and other representatives of the Convention and turns them over to Austria. He threatens to march on Paris. His troops mutiny. Along with the Duke of Orléans’s son, he surrenders to Austria as a prisoner of war. At the Convention, Robespierre gives a stirring speech calling for the Duke of Orléans’ head. Marat proposes “that the Convention abolish the deputies’ immunity from prosecution, so that they could put each other on trial” (634). The measure passes. 

Marat then proscribes the Rolands and Mme Roland’s lover, Buzot, from the Jacobin Club. Camille writes a pamphlet called “A Secret History of the Revolution” denouncing the Brissotins as allies of Dumouriez and “agents of Pitt [Prime Minister of England], Orléans, and Prussia” (638).