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The old Marquis was more sad and melancholy than he had used to be among his beloved birds and cherry trees at Durbelliere; and, on this occasion, he was probably the saddest of the party, for he was the one who would have rejoiced the most that the wedding of his son should be an occasion of joy to relatives, servants, tenants, and the numerous neighbours among whom he had always lived with so much mutual affection.
A kind of hospital was immediately opened at a little town called St. Laurent sur Sevre, about two leagues from Durbelliere, at which a convent of sisters of mercy had long been established.
The chateau of Durbelliere, the family seat of the Larochejacquelins, was situated in the very centre of the Bocage, between the small towns of Chatillon and Vihiers in the province of Poitou, and about twelve leagues from St. Florent. It was a large mansion, surrounded by extensive gardens, and a considerable domain.
We will do nothing to displease M. Henri and Mademoiselle Agatha," and then they gave three cheers for the inhabitants of Durbelliere; and Agatha, after thanking them for their kindness and their courtesy, returned into the house. For some days after the attack and rescue, there was great confusion in the chateau of Durbelliere.
The battle was fought on Thursday, and early on Saturday morning, M. de Lescure had heard some indistinct rumour of the occurrence; indistinct at least it seemed to him, for he could not believe that the success of the townspeople was so complete, as it was represented to him to be; he heard at the same time that the revolt had been headed by Cathelineau and Foret, and that as soon as the battle was over, they had started for Durbelliere to engage the assistance of Henri Larochejaquelin.
The immediate arrival of republican soldiers in the neighbourhood of Durbelliere was neither expected, or even feared by the inhabitants of the chateau, or it would not have been left by Henri, as it had been, perfectly undefended.
"We have now what we never had before a fine army collected together in one spot, a promise of succour from faithful England, and a strong probability of ultimate success. After all, what are we giving up but an old barrack? Let the rascal blues burn it; cannot we build a better Durbelliere when the King shall have his own again?" "Ah, Henri!" said the Marquis.
"It grieved me to think," said Jacques Chapeau, as he pulled the huge baskets down from the carts, from which the republicans had not yet had time to move them, "it grieved my very heart to think, M. Henri, that this good wine from the cellars of Durbelliere should have gone down republican throats; the thoughts of it lay heavy on my heart last night, so that I could not sleep.
May God send that he may live to repent the great crime which he has attempted." Now again everything was bustle and confusion at Durbelliere. Arms and gunpowder were again collected. The men again used all their efforts in assembling the royalist troops, the women in preparing the different necessaries for the army.
There was a large quarry on the Marquis' estate, and a considerable supply of gunpowder for blasting had been lately brought to Durbelliere from Nantes, as it could not be purchased in the neighbouring towns.
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