HOW JEAN OULLIER PROVED THAT WHEN THE WINE IS DRAWN
IT IS BEST TO DRINK IT.
Some minutes later Gaspard, Louis Renaud, and the Marquis de Souday
entered the room. Seeing Petit-Pierre on her knees, absorbed in prayer
and meditation, they paused on the threshold; and the Marquis de
Souday, who had thought proper to salute the reveille, as in the good
old times, with a song, stopped short in his tune respectfully.
But Petit-Pierre had heard the opening of the door. She rose and
addressed those who stood there.
"Come in, gentlemen, and forgive me for disturbing you so early," she
said; "but I have important determinations to announce to you."
"On the contrary, it is we who ought to ask your Royal Highness's
pardon for not foreseeing her wishes and for having slept while we
might have been useful to her," said Louis Renaud.
"A truce to compliments, my friend," interrupted Petit-Pierre. "That
appanage of royalty is ill-timed now that royalty is deserted and
engulfed for the second time."
"What can you mean?"
"I mean, my good and dear friends," resumed Petit-Pierre turning her
back to the fireplace, while the Vendéans stood in a circle round
her,--"I mean that I have called you to me that I may now give back
your promises and bid you farewell."
"Give back our promises! bid us farewell!" cried her astonished
partisans. "Your Royal Highness is surely not thinking of leaving us?"