what she has.'"

"The general knows what you risk to obtain this money, and he says that,
no matter how little you send, he will receive it gratefully."

"All the more, that the next will be better," said a young man who had
just joined the group, unperceived, so absorbed were all present
in Cadoudal's letter. "More especially if we say two words to the
mail-coach from Chambery next Saturday."

"Ah! is that you, Valensolle?" said Morgan.

"No real names, if you please, baron; let us be shot, guillotined, drawn
and quartered, but save our family honor. My name is Adler; I answer to
no other."

"Pardon me, I did wrong--you were saying?"

"That the mail-coach from Paris to Chambery will pass through
Chapelle-de-Guinchay and Belleville next Saturday, carrying fifty
thousand francs of government money to the monks of Saint-Bernard; to
which I may add that there is between those two places a spot called the
Maison-Blanche, which seems to me admirably adapted for an ambuscade."

"What do you say, gentlemen?" asked Morgan, "Shall we do citizen Fouche
the honor to worry about his police? Shall we leave France? Or shall we
still remain faithful Companions of Jehu?"

There was but one reply--"We stay."

"Right!" said Morgan. "Brothers, I recognize you there. Cadoudal points
out our duty in that admirable letter we have just received. Let us
adopt his heroic motto: _Etiamsi omnes, ego non._" Then addressing the
peasant, he said, "Branche-d'Or, the forty-nine thousand francs are at
your disposal; you can start when you like. Promise something better
next time, in our name, and tell the general for me that, wherever he
goes, even though it be to the scaffold, I shall deem it an honor to
follow, or to precede him. Au revoir, Branche-d'Or." Then, turning to
the young man who seemed so anxious to preserve his incognito, "My dear
Adler," he said, like a man who has recovered his gayety, lost for an
instant, "I undertake to feed and lodge you this night, if you will
deign to accept me as a host."

"Gratefully, friend Morgan," replied the new-comer. "Only let me tell
you that I could do without a bed, for I am dropping with fatigue, but
not without supper, for I am dying of hunger."

"You shall have a good bed and an excellent supper."

"Where must I go for them."

"Follow me."

"I'm ready."

"Then come on. Good-night, gentlemen! Are you on watch, Montbar?"

"Yes."

"Then we can sleep in peace."

So saying, Morgan