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"'What ails them, Peter?" said Cathelineau, catching hold of the arm of a man who had followed him from St. Florent, "if they advance they will be destroyed at Varin;" and as he spoke, he leapt upon the top of one of the waggons laden with provisions, which had come from Durbelliere.
About ten days after the departure of the Larochejaquelins from Durbelliere, three persons were making the best of their way, on horseback, through one of the deepest and dirtiest of the byeways, which in those days, served the inhabitants of Poitou for roads, and along which the farmers of the country contrived with infinite pains and delay, to drag the produce of their fields to the market towns.
"We must run fast, friends," said Chapeau to his allies from Durbelliere and Echanbroignes, "for the first men who reach Varin, will retake 'Marie Jeanne; we will have a share in her, as well as the men of St. Florent."
But Chatillon is but a league or two from Durbelliere, and one or the other of them was almost daily at the chateau. They had many cares upon them besides those of the army; cares which, though not productive of so much actual labour, sat, if possible, heavier on their hearts.
The two ladies were Madame de Lescure and her sister-in-law, and the servant was our trusty friend Chapeau. And we must go back a little to recount as quickly as we can, the misfortunes which brought them into their present situation. No rest was allowed to the Vendean chiefs after reaching Chatillon from Durbelliere.
Agatha had had but little conversation with him since his last arrival at Durbelliere, but still she felt that he was about to propose to her.
He had been absent from Durbelliere for about a year, during which time, he had ceased to be a boy, and on his return to the chateau had taken on himself the airs, if not the manners of a man.
"That he never will, Mademoiselle: a Larochejaquelin was never backward in the hour of need," said Cathelineau. "They know how to flatter in St. Florent, my friend," said she smiling. "If that be flattery, all the country flatters. I only speak as I hear others speaking; they say that beauty and courage were always to be found at Durbelliere."
Peter was soon encouraged to tell his tale, and to explain the mission which had brought him and his two companions to Durbelliere, and under ordinary circumstances the having to tell so good a tale would have been a great joy to him; but at the present moment Peter was not quite satisfied with his own position; why was the postillion in the salon while he was in the kitchen?
"Go home!" said Denot; "where's home?" "Do you know the big stone house, with the square windows, near the market-house?" "Yes, I know it: but tell me, Henri: who are there? I mean of your own people, you know the Durbelliere people?" "Why, we're all there, Adolphe Marie, and Victorine, and Charles, and Agatha, and my father and all. Poor Charles! You've heard of his state, Adolphe?"
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