retired to the subterranean passage, and reappeared a
couple of minutes later leading a man easily recognized by his costume
as a peasant, and by his square head with its shock of red hair for a
Breton. He advanced in the centre of the circle without appearing in
the least intimidated, fixing his eyes on each of the monks in turn, and
waiting until one of these twelve granite statues should break silence.
The president was the first to speak to him.

"From whom do you come?" he asked him.

"He who sent me," replied the peasant, "ordered me to answer, if I were
asked that question, that I was sent by Jehu."

"Are you the bearer of a verbal or written message?"

"I am to reply to the questions which you ask me, and exchange a slip of
paper for some money."

"Very good; we will begin with the questions. What are our brothers in
the Vendee doing?"

"They have laid down their arms and are awaiting only a word from you to
take them up again."

"And why did they lay down their arms?"

"They received the order to do so from his Majesty Louis XVIII."

"There is talk of a proclamation written by the King's own hand. Have
they received it?"

"Here is a copy."

The peasant gave a paper to the person who was interrogating him. The
latter opened it and read:

The war has absolutely no result save that of making the monarchy
odious and threatening. Monarchs who return to their own through
its bloody succor are never loved; these sanguinary measures must
therefore be abandoned; confide in the empire of opinion which
returns of itself to its saving principles. "God and the King,"
will soon be the rallying cry of all Frenchmen. The scattered
elements of royalism must be gathered into one formidable sheaf;
militant Vendee must be abandoned to its unhappy fate and marched
within a more pacific and less erratic path. The royalists of the
West have fulfilled their duty; those of Paris, who have prepared
everything for the approaching Restoration, must now be relied
upon--

The president raised his head, and, seeking Morgan with a flash of the
eye which his hood could not entirely conceal, said: "Well, brother,
I think this is the fulfilment of your wish of a few moments ago.
The royalists of the Vendee and the Midi will have the merit of pure
devotion." Then, lowering his eyes to the proclamation, of which there
still remained a few lines to read, he continued:

The Jews crucified their King, and