Michael Stein would not, or could not, understand the arguments he used;
and decidedly declared that if he found it possible to avoid fighting
for the future he would do so.
"Do you know, M. Chapeau," he said at last, "when I first took this axe
in my hand, this morning, I had hardly made up my mind on which side I
should use it. It was only when I thought of the boys and of Annot, that
I determined to go with the Vendeans. It wasn't possible for a man not
to fight on one side or the other--that's the only reason I had for
fighting at all."
Chapeau became rather ashamed of his friend's irregular doctrines, and
hurried on; explaining to Plume, who accompanied him, that Michael Stein
was a queer eccentric old man, but a thorough good royalist at heart.
"Why he has two sons among the red scarfs," he added, to settle the
point.
"Has he, indeed?" said Plume, who had never heard who the red scarfs
were.
CHAPTER XI
DEATH OF ADOLPHE DENOT
Nothing could be more complete than the success of the Vendeans, not
only in the town of Laval, but also outside the gate; nor could any
error be more fatal than that committed by the republican General,
Lechelle.
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