MARIE-CAROLINE,
Regent of France.
"There, the die is cast!" cried Petit-Pierre. "Now it remains to
conquer or die."
"And now," added the marquis, "if twenty counter-orders are sent to
me, I'll ring that tocsin on the 4th of June, and then--yes, damn it,
after us the deluge!"
"One thing is absolutely necessary," said Petit-Pierre, showing her
order. "This order must immediately and infallibly reach the various
division commanders so as to neutralize the bad effects of the
manifesto sent from Nantes."
"Alas!" said Gaspard; "God grant that luckless counter-order may reach
the country districts in time to paralyze the first movement and yet
leave vigor for the second. I fear the reverse; I am terribly afraid
that many of our brave fellows will be the victims of their courage
and their isolation."
"That is why I think we ought not to lose a moment, messieurs," said
Petit-Pierre, "but use our legs while waiting to use our arms. You,
Gaspard, inform the divisions of Upper and Lower Poitou. Monsieur le
Marquis de Souday will do the same in the Retz and Mauges regions.
You, my dear Louis Renaud, must explain it all to your Bretons. But
who will undertake to carry my despatch to the maréchal? He is at
Nantes; and your faces are far too well known there to allow me to
send any of you on this errand."
"I will go," said Bertha, who had heard, in the alcove where she was
resting with her sister, the sound of voices, and had risen to share
in the discussion. "That is one of my functions as aide-de-camp."
"Certainly it is; but your dress, my dear child," replied
Petit-Pierre, "will not meet the approval of the Nantes people,
charming as I myself think it."
"Therefore my sister will not go to Nantes, Madame," said Mary, coming
forward; "but I will, if you permit me. I can wear the dress of a
peasant-woman, and leave your Royal Highness her first aide-de-camp."
Bertha wished to insist; but Petit-Pierre, whispering in her ear,
said:--
"Stay, my dear Bertha; I have something to say to you about Baron
Michel. We will plan a project he will not oppose, I am very sure."
Bertha blushed, lowered her head, and left her sister to take
possession of the letter and convey it to Nantes.