," he observed, with
a certain whimsical regret of tone. "That, no doubt, is what has made
a statesman of you. You had chosen more wisely had you elected to serve
the Republic with your sword instead. Come, my friend," and he pointed
to the wine, "let us pledge the Nation."

La Boulaye shrugged his shoulders slightly, and sighed. In the end he
came forward and took the wine.

"Long live the Republic!" was Charlot's toast, and with a slight
inclination of the head La Boulaye drained his glass.

"It is likely to live without you, Charlot, unless you mend your
conduct."

"Diable!" snapped the Captain, a trifle peevishly. "Can you not
understand that in my own way I am serving my country. You have called
me a brigand. But you might say the same of General Dumouriez himself.
How many cities has he not sacked?"

"That is the way of war."

"And so is this. He makes war upon the enemies of France that dwell in
cities, whilst I, in a smaller way, make war upon those that travel in
coaches. I confine myself to emigres--these damned aristocrats whom
it is every good Frenchman's duty to aid in stamping out. Over
the frontiers they come with their jewels, their plate, and their
money-chests. To whom belongs this wealth? To France. Too long already
have they withheld from the sons of the soil that which belongs equally
to them, and now they have the effrontery to attempt to carry these
riches out of the country. Would any true Republican dare to reproach me
for what I do? I am but seizing that which belongs to France, and here
dividing it among the good patriots that are with me, the soldiers that
have bled for France."

"A specious argument," sneered La Boulaye.

"Specious enough to satisfy the Convention itself if ever I should be
called to task," answered Charlot, with heat. "Do you propose to draw
the attention of the Executive to my doings?"

La Boulaye's grey eyes regarded him steadily for a moment.

"Know you of any reason why I should not?" he asked.

"Yes, Caron, I do," was the ready answer. "I am well aware of the extent
of your power with the Mountain. In Paris I can see that it might go
hard with me if you were minded that it should, and you were able to
seize me. On the other hand, that such arguments that I have advanced
to you would be acceptable to the Government I do not doubt. But whilst
they would approve of this that you call brigandage, I also do not doubt
that they would claim that the prizes I hav