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So that he has not the courage you suppose; nor any kind of courage, as I told him once. He has only insolence." At parting Le Chapelier again exhorted him to give thought to what he proposed. "Send me word if you change your mind. I am lodged at the Cerf, and I shall be here until the day after to-morrow. If you have ambition, this is your moment."
"I don't understand you, Andre." "I am not so very obscure. Not nearly so obscure as I can be. Turn it over in your mind. It may help to comfort you presently." He consulted his watch again. "Pray use this house as your own. I must be going." Le Chapelier put his head in at the door. "Forgive the intrusion. But we shall be late, Andre, unless you..." "Coming," Andre answered him.
Outside the rain was falling heavily, churning the ground into thick mud, and for a moment Andre-Louis, with Le Chapelier ever at his side, stood hesitating to step out into the deluge. The watchful Chabrillane had seen his chance, and by a detour that took him momentarily out into the rain, he came face to face with the too-daring young Breton.
"I have no ambition, I suppose," said Andre-Louis, and went his way. That night at the theatre he had a mischievous impulse to test what Le Chapelier had told him of the state of public feeling in the city. They were playing "The Terrible Captain," in the last act of which the empty cowardice of the bullying braggart Rhodomont is revealed by Scaramouche.
Andre-Louis, on a bench near the window, a prey now to some measure of reaction, listened in bewilderment to that flood of eloquence. As the applause died down, he heard a voice exclaiming: "I propose to you that we appoint our leader here, Le Chapelier, to be that delegate."
"Will it have Omnes Omnibus for its representative?" Le Chapelier was laughing, his countenance eager. "Ancenis will be convulsed with pride. It is not Rennes or Nantes, as it might have been had you wished it. But it gives you a voice for Brittany." "I should have to go to Ancenis..." "No need at all. A letter from me to the Municipality, and the Municipality will confirm you at once.
Le Chapelier released at last his hold of Andre-Louis' ankle, staring up at him the while in sheer amazement. It seemed that the fellow was in earnest; serious for once; and for once on the right side. What had come to him? "Of assassins what shall you look for but assassination?
But this hat! you know it can't appear it would destroy you: my chapelier shall be with you instantly. It will all be done in five minutes you have no idea of the celerity with which you may command every thing at Paris.
It was a statement that helped Le Chapelier at last to understand, at least in part, this bewildering change in Andre-Louis, which rendered him faithless to the side that employed him. "I am not here," continued Andre-Louis, "merely to demand at your hands vengeance upon Philippe de Vilmorin's murderers. I am here to tell you the things he would to-day have told you had he lived."
"Yes," said Andre-Louis coldly, masking his irritation before the other's hectoring manner. "I have heard that." "Oh! And what do you think of it?" Arms akimbo, the Colossus towered above him. Andre-Louis turned aside to Le Chapelier. "I don't think I understand. Have you brought this gentleman here to examine my conscience?" "Name of a name! He's prickly as a porcupine!" Danton protested.
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