Chapter 259: Teacher Robespierre vs. Teacher Robespierre
The police officer noticed that Robespierre's name included "de," indicating his noble background, so he spoke with a bit more respect: "Excuse me, sir, but did you apply for a permit to give a public speech here?"
According to current regulations, public speeches in open areas require prior approval. Of course, this rule was usually ignored, but if a policeman caught you, the law would be enforced strictly.
"I... I didn't," Robespierre stammered, looking embarrassed.
As the nobles who had fought with him smirked in satisfaction, a young man with frizzy hair and wearing a blue-gray coat hurried over. He looked at Robespierre and said, "Maxi, I finally found you!"
He then turned to the police officer and asked, "Sir, what seems to be the problem?"
Noticing the silver scales emblem on the young man's collar, the officer realized it represented the Bureau of Public Justice. He became a bit nervous. "Oh, nothing much, this gentleman was just violating the public speech ban."
It wasn't that the officer was corrupt; the Bureau of Public Justice was simply feared throughout Paris. His superior had been questioned by them before, so all public servants were on edge around their agents.
"Oh, you see, he's my classmate from out of town," the young man smiled and patted the officer on the arm. "Please, give him a break. I promise he won't do it again."
The officer hesitated but finally nodded. "Alright, just make sure you keep an eye on him."
The nobles, who wanted to protest further, watched as the young investigator quickly pulled Robespierre away from the square.
But they didn't get far before a tall, blonde man blocked their path. He bowed respectfully. "Mr. Desmoulins, and our speaker here, the Crown Prince wishes to have a word with you."
Robespierre was shocked and whispered to his old classmate, "Is the crackdown on speeches in Paris really so strict? Even the Crown Prince is involved?"
"It... it's not about that," stammered Desmoulins.
He then turned to Eymar and said, "It's... it's an honor."
Moments later, inside a light gray "diamond-shaped" carriage, Joseph looked with interest at the famous "Incorruptible" of later history. Robespierre was in his twenties, not yet thirty, with a slightly plump face, large nostrils, and messy blonde hair from the fight. He had a rather plain appearance that would go unnoticed in a crowd.
Desmoulins noticed Joseph's expression and hesitated before saying, "Your Highness, do... do you know Maxi?"
"Ah, no, I don't," Joseph replied, withdrawing his gaze. He casually asked, "You're classmates?"
"Y-yes. He... he's Mar... Mar..."
Robespierre, frustrated, interrupted, "Honored Prince, I'm Maximilien François de Robespierre. It's a pleasure to speak with you. Desmoulins and I study law at the University of Paris."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Joseph said with a smile, thinking that he now had the complete lineup for the future Jacobin faction.
He glanced at the bruises on Robespierre's face. "What led to your conflict with those gentlemen earlier?"
Robespierre immediately became indignant. "They disagreed with my views, and when they couldn't win the argument, they resorted to violence."
"What were you speaking about?" Joseph inquired.
Robespierre glanced at the distant public trial. "They're planning to execute hundreds of citizens... I was advocating for the abolition of the death penalty!"
Joseph's thoughts raced as he recalled how many people Robespierre had sent to the guillotine during the French Revolution—tens of thousands, at least. And now here he was, talking about abolishing the death penalty? The irony was almost too much.
He steadied himself and cleared his throat. "Ahem, actually, most of those being tried are serious criminals, many with a history of murder."
Robespierre sat up straight and earnestly replied, "Your Highness, every human life should be respected. Even if someone commits a crime, it doesn't justify..."
Joseph immediately thought of a famous saying by a renowned legal scholar and professor, often cited in discussions about justice. With a smile, he said, "Respect, yes, absolutely. But only beasts kill without consequence. If we don't hold them accountable, aren't we treating them like beasts? To respect their humanity, we must sentence them to death."
"That's not..." Robespierre, struggling to keep up, shifted the topic. "Your Highness, the death penalty is a barbaric punishment. Abolishing it is a sign of progress and civilization!"
Joseph thought to himself that Robespierre's argument was much weaker than those made by modern abolitionists.
"No, the death penalty is actually a mark of civilization. Have you considered that if we left it to the victims' families, they would probably want to nail these criminals to a cross, whip them for hours every day, and listen to their screams until they died a slow, painful death? By sentencing them to a quick and relatively painless death, the judge is acting out of a sense of civilization."
He pointed upward. "Even God executes those who are guilty. Everyone knows that the Lord is the most civilized of all."
"But..." Robespierre tried to keep up. "God also teaches us to love and forgive. Shouldn't we do the same with those who have committed crimes?"
Joseph shook his head. "But you're not the victim. How can you forgive the murderer on their behalf? Or, you could try bringing the dead back to life and asking them what they think."
Frustrated, Robespierre tried another angle. "Your Highness, if we execute someone and later find out it was a mistake, there's no way to undo it!"
"Every year, more than 20% of sailors on long voyages die. Should we sink all the ships because of that risk?" Joseph smiled. "No, we should keep improving our ships and navigation. In fact, I'm already working on police reforms across France to minimize wrongful convictions."
Robespierre opened his mouth, but for once, he was at a loss for words.
Seeing his discomfort, Joseph changed the subject. "By the way, Mr. Robespierre, what brings you to Paris this time?"
He was already thinking about how to recruit Robespierre into the Bureau of Public Justice to complete the Jacobin team.
Robespierre quickly replied, "Your Highness, the Duke of Chartres asked me to handle a legal case for him."
Desmoulins chimed in, "Is... is it about the inheritance dispute?"
"Yes."
Joseph was taken aback that they would so casually discuss handling a case for the son of the Duke of Orléans in front of him. But he soon realized that these two were probably completely unaware of the political intrigues at Versailles.
The Duke of Orléans had a knack for presenting himself well, especially among the liberal circles where he was held in high regard. Later, during the French Revolution, he was even seen as a leader by the liberal factions.
No wonder Robespierre was willing to travel all the way to help his son with a lawsuit.
(End of Chapter)
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