an you expect."

"No," replied Cadoudal, "this rider comes from the direction of Vannes."

The sound became more distinct, and it proved that Cadoudal was right.

The second horseman, like the first, halted at the gate, dismounted, and
came into the room. The royalist leader recognized him at once, in spite
of the large cloak in which he was wrapped.

"Is it you, Benedicite?" he asked.

"Yes, general."

"Where do you come from?"

"From Vannes, where you sent me to watch the Blues.

"Well, what are the Blues doing?"

"Scaring themselves about dying of hunger if you blockade the town.
In order to procure provisions General Hatry intends to carry off the
supplies at Grandchamp. The general is to command the raid in person;
and, to act more quickly, only a hundred men are to go."

"Are you tired, Benedicite?"

"Never, general."

"And your horse?"

"He came fast, but he can do twelve or fifteen miles more without
killing himself."

"Give him two hours' rest, a double feed of oats, and make him do
thirty."

"On those conditions he can do them."

"Start in two hours. Be at Grandchamp by daybreak. Give the order in my
name to evacuate the village. I'll take care of General Hatry and his
column. Is that all you have to say?"

"No, I heard other news."

"What is it?"

"That Vannes has a new bishop."

"Ha! so they are giving us back our bishops?"

"So it seems; but if they are all like this one, they can keep them."

"Who is he?"

"Audrein!"

"The regicide?"

"Audrein the renegade."

"When is he coming?"

"To-night or to-morrow."

"I shall not go to meet him; but let him beware of falling into my men's
hands."

Benedicite and Coeur-de-Roi burst into a laugh which completed
Cadoudal's thought.

"Hush!" cried Cadoudal.

The three men listened.

"This time it is probably he," observed Georges.

The gallop of a horse could be heard coming from the direction of La
Roche-Bernard.

"It is certainly he," repeated Coeur-de-Roi.

"Then, my friends, leave me alone. You, Benedicite, get to Grandchamp as
soon as possible. You, Coeur-de-Roi, post thirty men in the courtyard;
I want messengers to send in different directions. By the way, tell some
one to bring the best that can be got for supper in the village."

"For how many, general?"

"Oh! two."

"Are you going out?"

"No, only to meet the man who is coming."

Two or three men had already taken the horses of the messengers into the
c