Good nature and terrible consequences

Meaning

Lemma.

Bonhomie is an easy good nature or genial manner. Its appearance does not certify humane action. The description of the law of prairial couples it with terrible as traditional protections for the accused disappear; the phrase holds affability and cruelty together rather than resolving one into the other. Later the president replies with bonhomie that a Barnabite and a Capuchin are the same thing, dismissing Longuemare’s correction. The manner is amiable, but the refusal to distinguish has consequences in a capital proceeding. The supplied English preserves the contrast with “terrible good nature” and “good-naturedly”.