It can hardly be said that he himself was the hero of his own reveries;
he was assured beyond the shadow of a doubt, that the proud happiness
which he pictured to his imagination was as much beyond his own reach,
as though his thoughts were turned on some celestial being. No, it was
a creation of his brain, in which he dwelt awhile, till his own strong
good sense reminded him that he had other work before him than the
indulgence in such dreams, and he determined that he would be at
Durbelliere as little as was possible.
It was singular though, that he contrived, while his imagination was
thus rambling, to mingle in his thoughts the actual and the ideal. The
revolt of La Vendee, the struggle of his brother royalists for the
restoration of their King; the annihilation of republicanism, and
re-establishment of the old clergy, were still the subjects of his
meditations; and the bold plans which his mind then suggested to him,
were those which were afterwards put into effect.
He still insisted on attacking the strongly fortified citadel of Saumur,
and after their success at Fontenay, the chiefs agreed at once to make
arrangements for that great undertaking.
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