Miranda had remained in La Force even after the fall of Robespierre in July 1794, and is not finally released until the January of 1795.

The art theorist Quatremère de Quincy is among those who campaigned for his release during this time.

Now convinced that the whole direction taken by the Revolution had been wrong, Miranda starts to conspire with the moderate royalists against the Directory, and is even named as the possible leader of a military coup.

He is arrested and ordered out of the country, only to escape and go into hiding.