since that time they have
wandered over the face of the earth. The French guillotined
theirs, and they shall be dispersed throughout the land.

Given at Blankenbourg, this 25th of August, 1799, on the day
of St. Louis and the sixth year of our reign.

(Signed) LOUIS.

The young men looked at each other.

"'Quos vult perdere Jupiter dementat!'" said Morgan.

"Yes," said the president; "but when those whom Jupiter wishes to
destroy represent a principle, they must be sustained not only against
Jupiter but against themselves. Ajax, in the midst of the bolts and
lightning, clung to a rock, and, threatening Heaven with his clinched
hand, he cried, 'I will escape in spite of the gods!'" Then turning
toward Cadoudal's envoy, "And what answer did he who sent you make to
this proclamation?"

"About what you yourself have just answered. He told me to come and
inform myself whether you had decided to hold firm in spite of all, in
spite of the King himself."

"By Heavens! yes," said Morgan.

"We are determined," said the President.

"In that case," replied the peasant, "all is well. Here are the real
names of our new chiefs, and their assumed names. The general recommends
that you use only the latter as far as is possible in your despatches.
He observes that precaution when he, on his side, speaks of you."

"Have you the list?" asked the President.

"No; I might have been stopped, and the list taken. Write yourself; I
will dictate them to you."

The president seated himself at the table, took a pen, and wrote the
following names under the dictation of the Breton peasant:

"Georges Cadoudal, Jehu or Roundhead; Joseph Cadoudal, Judas Maccabeus;
Lahaye Saint-Hilaire, David; Burban-Malabry, Brave-la-Mort; Poulpiquez,
Royal-Carnage; Bonfils, Brise-Barriere; Dampherne, Piquevers; Duchayla,
La Couronne; Duparc, Le Terrible; La Roche, Mithridates; Puisaye, Jean
le Blond."

"And these are the successors of Charette, Stoffiet, Cathelineau,
Bonchamp, d'Elbee, la Rochejaquelin, and Lescure!" cried a voice.

The Breton turned toward him who had just spoken.

"If they get themselves killed like their predecessors," said he, "what
more can you ask of them?"

"Well answered," said Morgan, "so that--"

"So that, as soon as our general has your reply," answered the peasant,
"he will take up arms again."

"And suppose our reply had been in the negative?" asked another voice.

"So much the worse for you," replied th