He
felt that such beauty, such ineffable loveliness as hers could almost
make him forget his country and his countrymen; and then he shuddered
and turned his eyes away from her. But there she sat close to him: and
she would speak to him, and ask him questions; she asked after his
friends in St. Florent, after the women who were wounded, and she gave
him money for the children who were made orphans; and then her hand
touched his again, and he thought that he was asleep and dreaming.
Much of importance to their future plans was arranged that night, and
such a council of war was probably never before assembled. The old man
joined in their contemplated designs with as much energy as the youngest
among them; the words rash and imprudent never once crossed his lips;
nothing seemed rash to him that was to be undertaken for the restoration
of the King. The priest took a very prominent part in it, and his word
was certainly not for peace; he was the most urgent of the party for
decided measures. De Lescure, Larochejaquelin, and Denot, argued,
debated, and considered, as though war had always been their profession;
but they all submitted, or were willing to submit, to Cathelineau; he
had already commenced the war, and had been successful; he had already
shewn the ready wit to contrive, and the bold hand to execute; his
fitness to lead was acknowledged, and though two days since he was only
a postillion, he was tacitly acknowledged by this little band of
royalists, to be their leader.
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