"[July 26 (8 Thermidor), 1974] He [Robespierre] went to the Jacobin
Club, and repeated his speech to a crowded meeting. He told them
that it was his dying testament. The combination of evil men was too
strong for him. He had thrown away his buckler [a shield], and was
ready for the hemlock [a poisonous drug].
Collot
sat on the step below the president's chair, close to him. He said,
"Why did you desert the Committee? Why did you make your views known
in public without informing us?" Robespierre bit his nails in
silence. For he had not consulted the Committee because it had refused
the extension of powers, and his action that day had been to appeal to
the Convention against them.
The Club, divided at first, went over to him, gave him an ovation, and
expelled Collot and Billaud-Varennes with violence and
contumely. [...]
Collot and Billaud, both members of the supreme governing body, went
to their place of meeting, after the stormy scene at the Club, and
found St. Just
writing intently.
They fell upon him, and demanded to know whether he was preparing
accusations against them. He answered that that was exactly the thing
he was doing. When he had promised to submit his report to the
Committee of Public Safety before he went to the Assembly, they let
him go.
In the morning, he sent word that he was too much hurt by their
treatment of him to keep his promise."