Security outside the Salon des Amis du Progrès had been immense. The Jacobins knew they had no shortage of mortal enemies. Élise knew loitering would have got her arrested, so she could not simply wait for the men to leave to make her move.

The salon was hosting multiple Jacobin speakers, Robespierre and Marat were among them. She had followed the leaflets, as Monsieur Chobat had suggested.

She had crawled her way into the basement, but she soon discovered the basement door could not be opened from this side. Somehow Élise had known this would not be so easy, and their deaths would have to wait another day, so she had done the next best she could do: eavesdrop. An Assassin never knew where she might pick up useful intelligence.

She had sat on the steps of the basement door for about half an hour, hearing muffled conversations. They had all been mundane. She was not sure exactly what the basement door was adjacent to, but it was definitely not the main chamber, where the speeches were being made. She had not heard anything significant, until now. It sounded like Marat and Robespierre talking. She strained her ears and concentrated with all her mite.

"Did you read the...I...you?" Marat's voice.

"Oui, a 'Committe of Public Safety', you...it?" Robespierre replied.

"Indeed. Do you have a...with that...?"

"Not in the...But you seem to put a lot...in this Danton..."

"He has the perfect spirit for the revolution! Full of fire!" Marat said.

"But we barely...the...He only joined the...less than...He still does not really...us," Robespierre replied.

"Bien, something needs to change...This new government we ushered in is...disappointing. Those damn Girondins...the..."

The Girondins. The Jacobin's chief rivals in government!

"Oui, those Girondins, they're a tremendous..."

"Bootlickers for the old masters! Why won't you use that artifact of yours, Max? Twist their rotten souls into a proper shape!?"

The Apple, that must be what they were talking about! Fortunately, it seemed when Marat's anger rose, so did his volume. That made her eavesdropping easier.

"It's not that simple, mon ami! The Old Man on The Mountain...and found a...death. I...especially...the Assassins about. If they were to...while I carry the Apple..."

The Assassins. The Apple. How strange it felt to hear these powerful words when she was not supposed to be listening.

"Bah, those cafards! If they acquire the Apple, why can't Weishaupt snatch it back the way he did from Grand Master Francois!?"

Weishaupt. Grand Master Francois. Her hair nearly stood up at those names.

"Please, calm down...may be wise to...here, especially if the rumors of the truce are true."

The truce. The one she had fostered. All these words cut deep, and she was not even meant to hear them.

"Leave it to those eunuchs to ally with the Assassins! It sickens me...the Templar name!"

Then there was silence. That was an astoundingly juicy conversation she had happened upon. Though had she really learned anything new? It tickled her to hear her enemies talk of such important topics while unaware she was listening, but -

"...how do we...with this...?" Marat said.

"Which...?"

"Those...Gindorins."

"Patience...We mustn't..."

"Audacity! That's what Danton says we need in this revolution and he's -"

"Yes, I know!" Robespierre responded. "You've told me...But I think even he...agreement with your...as you...I've talked to the...more than you."

"Your patience...an excuse for...and cowardice." Was he calling his closest comrade a coward? What an angry soul he was. Even towards his closest friends his tongue was fire.

"It's...and wisdom...You'd do well to...this. I simply see the...you. I'm not ignoring the...I'm just... more time to..."

"I would like to speak to Brother Spartacus...but its a...you so jealously guard!"

"Peace, mon ami! I do not 'jealously guard' my... it's how...prefers..."

"How do I know you're being...?"

"You don't, but we've put trust...let you ascend our...so...Put...me, please!"

There was a silence, before Robespierre spoke again:

"I'll...Momoro this Sunday. He usually offers a..."

Momoro. Is that what she heard? That name sounded very familiar.

"You say I put too...in Danton, I say you put too much faith in Momoro," Marat said.

"He admires you, you know."

"Because I have the...he doesn't."

"Come, let's..."

Then the conversation ceased. She heard them stand and walk.