The Reaping by Rafael Sabatini

Soon after noon of the following day Vidal presented himself at the Tuileries on the business with which his general had charged him, and there he fell into the grave error of not only answering idle questions concerning the affair that had brought him to Paris, but further, of answering them truthfully. Had he but used discreetness, none would have known of it until he had delivered himself at the bar of the Assembly to the representatives of the Nation. If Saint-Just had then resented the matter -- as he must have done -- at least he could have had no personal grievance, against Vidal. He must have aimed all his resentment at General Dumouriez himself, passing over Vidal who would have remained but the unconscious instrument of his superior officer. By his talkativeness, however, the colonel brought himself into direct conflict with Saint Just, and so thrust himself neck-deep into the peril that threatened to overwhelm and destroy him.

It was in the hall of the Palace on that gusty day of Messidor that the twain came into conflict. Vidal had swaggered up the steps with great click of spurs and rattle of trailing sabre; he had taken a greasy usher by the shoulder in a grip that made the rascal squirm, and in that clarion voice of his he had announced his quality and his purpose.