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Au revoir, Branche-d'Or." Then, turning to the young man who seemed so anxious to preserve his incognito, "My dear Adler," he said, like a man who has recovered his gayety, lost for an instant, "I undertake to feed and lodge you this night, if you will deign to accept me as a host." "Gratefully, friend Morgan," replied the new-comer.
Branche-d'Or looked at the young men before him with an air that left no doubt of his repugnance for a certain sort of pleasantry; but as the group had evidently no offensive intention, their gayety having no insolence about it, he said, with a tolerably gracious air: "Which of you gentlemen is captain? I have a letter for him from my captain." Morgan advanced a step and said: "I am."
The thing was done with such unanimity that it was easy to see the manoeuvre had been planned. Roland roared with rage. Branche-d'Or came up to him and put his hat in his hand. "I do not surrender!" shouted Roland. "Useless to do so, Monsieur de Montrevel," replied Branche-d'Or with the utmost politeness.
He was soon to know, for they had ridden five hours and a half and the day was breaking. Beyond the village of Tridon they turned across country; leaving Vannes to the left, they reached Trefleon. At Trefleon, Cadoudal, still followed by his major-general, Branche-d'Or, had found Monte-a-l'assaut and Chante-en-hiver.
Cadoudal was left with a hundred men, Branche-d'Or and Fleur-d'epine. He returned to Roland. "Well, general," said the latter, "is everything satisfactory?" "Yes, colonel, fairly so," replied the Chouan; "but you can judge for yourself in half an hour." "It will be difficult to judge of anything in that mist." Cadoudal looked about him. "It will lift in half an hour," said he.
A flame crossed Roland's face; then almost as suddenly he turned pale as death. "You are right, Branche-d'Or," he replied. "Succor or no succor, I surrender. You and your men can go and fight with your comrades." The Chouans gave a cry of joy, let go their hold of Roland, and rushed toward the Republicans, brandishing their hats and muskets, and shouting: "Vive le roi!"
It is easily told, I won't tell you myself, for you wouldn't believe me. Wait. I will have some one tell you." He opened the door and called out: "Branche-d'Or!" Two seconds later Branche-d'Or appeared. "This is my major-general," said Cadoudal, laughing. "He fulfils the same functions for me that General Berthier does for the First Consul. Branche-d'Or " "General."
"Excuse me, Monsieur de Montrevel," said Branche-d'Or, "but that is not loyal!" "What!" shrieked Roland, in a fury, "not loyal! You insult me, villain, because you know I can't defend myself or punish you."
He understood that the royalist leader was waiting for him. With a cry he spurred his horse toward him. As if to save him part of the way, Cadoudal put his horse to a gallop. But a hundred feet from Cadoudal he drew rein. "Attention!" he said to Branche-d'Or and his companions. "Don't be alarmed, general; here we are," said Branche-d'Or. Cadoudal drew a pistol from his holster and cocked it.
While Roland was returning to the Republicans, Branche-d'Or galloped toward the two hundred men who were blocking the way. He had hardly spoken to Cadoudal's four lieutenants before a hundred men were seen to wheel to the right and a hundred more to wheel to the left and march in opposite directions, one toward Plumergat, the other toward Saint-Ave, leaving the road open.
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