hey
fastened stones. This sight, joined to the other aspects of the strange
scene,--the fantastic dress, the savage expressions of the barbarous
and uncouth _gars_,--was so new and so amazing to Monsieur de Fontaine,
accustomed to the nobler and better-regulated appearance of the Vendean
troops, that he seized the occasion to say to the Marquis de Montauran,
"What do you expect to do with such brutes?"

"Not very much, my dear count," replied the Gars.

"Will they ever be fit to manoeuvre before the enemy?"

"Never."

"Can they understand or execute an order?"

"No."

"Then what good will they be to you?"

"They will help me to plunge my sword into the entrails of the
Republic," replied the marquis in a thundering voice. "They will give me
Fougeres in three days, and all Brittany in ten! Monsieur," he added in
a gentler voice, "start at once for La Vendee; if d'Auticamp, Suzannet,
and the Abbe Bernier will act as rapidly as I do, if they'll not
negotiate with the First Consul, as I am afraid they will" (here he
wrung the hand of the Vendean chief) "we shall be within reach of Paris
in a fortnight."

"But the Republic is sending sixty thousand men and General Brune
against us."

"Sixty thousand men! indeed!" cried the marquis, with a scoffing laugh.
"And how will Bonaparte carry on the Italian campaign? As for General
Brune, he is not coming. The First Consul has sent him against the
English in Holland, and General Hedouville, _the friend of our friend
Barras_, takes his place here. Do you understand?"

As Monsieur de Fontaine heard these words he gave Montauran a look of
keen intelligence which seemed to say that the marquis had not himself
understood the real meaning of the words addressed to him. The two
leaders then comprehended each other perfectly, and the Gars replied
with an undefinable smile to the thoughts expressed in both their eyes:
"Monsieur de Fontaine, do you know my arms? our motto is 'Persevere unto
death.'"

The Comte de Fontaine took Montauran's hand and pressed it, saying: "I
was left for dead at Quatre-Chemins, therefore you need never doubt me.
But believe in my experience--times have changed."

"Yes," said La Billardiere, who now joined them. "You are young,
marquis. Listen to me; your property has not yet been sold--"

"Ah!" cried Montauran, "can you conceive of devotion without sacrifice?"

"Do you really know the king?"

"I do."

"Then I admire your loyalty."

"The king,