u, general."

"So, with the chivalry that is the basis of your nature, you
undertook to bring me the treaty signed on the 25th. The Abbe Bernier,
d'Autichamp, Chatillon, and Suzannet signed your pass, and here you
are."

"On my word, general, I must admit that you are perfectly well-informed.
The First Consul desires peace with all his heart. He knows that in you
he has a brave and honorable adversary, and being unable to meet you
himself, since you were not likely to come to Paris, he expedited me to
you in his behalf."

"That is to say, to the Abbe Bernier."

"That can hardly matter to you, general, if I bind myself to make the
First Consul ratify what may be agreed upon between you and me. What are
your conditions of peace?"

"They are very simple, colonel: that the First Consul shall restore
his Majesty Louis XVIII. to the throne; that he himself be constable,
lieutenant-general, general-in-chief by land and sea, and I his first
subordinate."

"The First Consul has already replied to that demand."

"And that is why I have decided to reply myself to his response."

"When?"

"This very night, if occasion offers."

"In what way?"

"By resuming hostilities."

"But are you aware that Chatillon, d'Autichamp and Suzannet have laid
down their arms?"

"They are the leaders of the Vendeans, and in the name of the Vendeans
they can do as they see fit. I am the leader of the Chouans, and in the
name of the Chouans I shall do what suits me."

"Then you condemn this unhappy land to a war of extermination, general!"

"It is a martyrdom to which I summon all Christians and royalists."

"General Brune is at Nantes with the eight thousand prisoners just
returned to us by the English after their defeats at Alkmaar and
Castricum."

"That is the last time they will have the chance. The Blues have taught
us the bad habit of not making prisoners. As for the number of our
enemies, we don't care for that; it is a mere detail."

"If General Brune with his eight thousand men, joined to the twenty
thousand he has received from General Hedouville, is not sufficient, the
First Consul has decided to march against you in person with one hundred
thousand men."

Cadoudal smiled.

"We will try to prove to him," he said, "that we are worthy to fight
against him."

"He will burn your towns."

"We shall retire to our huts."

"He will burn your huts."

"We will live in the woods."

"Reflect, general."

"Do me the hon