to
my hands that I should cast it back to those who have gambled with it
and lost it."

"Permit me, general, to remark that I did not ask you for all this."

"But I, I ask you--"

"I think you are doing me the honor to take me for posterity."

Bonaparte started, turned round, saw to whom he was speaking, and was
silent.

"I only want," said Morgan, with a dignity which surprised the man whom
he addressed, "a yes or a no."

"And why do you want that?"

"To know whether we must continue to war against you as an enemy, or
fall at your feet as a savior."

"War," said Bonaparte, "war! Madmen, they who war with me! Do they not
see that I am the elect of God?"

"Attila said the same thing."

"Yes; but he was the elect of destruction; I, of the new era. The grass
withered where he stepped; the harvest will ripen where I pass the plow.
War? Tell me what has become of those who have made it against me? They
lie upon the plains of Piedmont, of Lombardy and Cairo!"

"You forget the Vendee; the Vendee is still afoot."

"Afoot, yes! but her leaders? Cathelineau, Lescure, La Rochejaquelin,
d'Elbee, Bonchamps, Stoffiet, Charette?"

"You are speaking of men only; the men have been mown down, it is true;
but the principle is still afoot, and for it are fighting Autichamp,
Suzannet, Grignon, Frotte, Chatillon, Cadoudal. The younger may not be
worth the elder, but if they die as their elders died, what more can you
ask?"

"Let them beware! If I determine upon a campaign against the Vendee I
shall send neither Santerre nor Rossignol!"

"The Convention sent Kleber, and the Directory, Hoche!"

"I shall not send; I shall go myself."

"Nothing worse can happen to them than to be killed like Lescure, or
shot like Charette."

"It may happen that I pardon them."

"Cato taught us how to escape the pardon of Caesar."

"Take care; you are quoting a Republican!"

"Cato was one of those men whose example can be followed, no matter to
what party they belong."

"And suppose I were to tell you that I hold the Vendee in the hollow of
my hand?"

"You!"

"And that within three months, she will lay down her arms if I choose?"

The young man shook his head.

"You don't believe me?"

"I hesitate to believe you."

"If I affirm to you that what I say is true; if I prove it by telling
you the means, or rather the men, by whom I shall bring this about?"

"If a man like General Bonaparte affirms a thing, I shall believe it;
a