replied to him. His pistols were both
discharged; locked in as he was he could not use his sabre, and he
howled with rage.

Meantime the conductor was forced, with a pistol at his throat, to
give up the money. Two men took the bags containing the fifty thousand
francs, and fastened them on Montbar's horse, which his groom had
brought ready saddled and bridled, as if to a meet. Montbar kicked off
his heavy boots and sprang into the saddle.

"My compliments to the First Consul, Monsieur de Montrevel!" cried
Morgan. Then, turning to his companions, he cried: "Scatter which way
you will, you know the rendezvous for to-morrow night."

"Yes, yes," replied ten or a dozen voices.

And the band dispersed like a flock of birds, disappearing down the
valley into the shadow of the trees that lined the banks of the little
river and surrounded the Maison-Blanche.

At that moment the gallop of horses was heard, and the escort, alarmed
by the pistol shots, appeared on the crest of the hill and came down
the slope like an avalanche. But it came too late; it found only the
conductor sitting dazed by the roadside, the bodies of the colonel and
of Fouche's agent, and Roland a prisoner, roaring like a lion gnawing at
the bars of its cage.

CHAPTER XLIII. LORD GRENVILLE'S REPLY

While the events we have just recorded were transpiring, and occupying
the minds and newspapers of the provinces, other events, of very
different import, were maturing in Paris, which were destined to occupy
the minds and newspapers of the whole world.

Lord Tanlay had returned, bringing the reply of his uncle, Lord
Grenville. This reply consisted of a letter addressed to M. de
Talleyrand, inclosing a memorandum for the First Consul. The letter was
couched in the following terms:

DOWNING STREET, February 14, 1800

Sir--I have received and placed before the King the letter
which you transmitted to me through my nephew, Lord Tanlay.
His Majesty, seeing no reason to depart from the
long-established customs of Europe in treating with foreign
states, directs me to forward you in his name the official
reply which is herewith inclosed.

I have the honor to be, with the highest esteem, your very
humble and obedient servant, GRENVILLE.

The letter was dry; the memorandum curt. Moreover, the First Consul's
letter to King George was autographic, and King George, not "departing
from the long-established customs of Europe in treating wit