reached　the　heart　of　one　whom　they　struck　to　death。　The　leaders　of　the　Vendeans　and　the　Chouans　assembled　round　that　table　looked　at　the　Marquis　de　Montauran　with　cruel　curiosity。　The　eyes　of　Madame　du　Gua；　flashing　with　joy；　turned　from　the　marquis　to　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil；　who　was　speechless　with　surprise。　The　Republican　officers；　uneasy　in　mind；　questioned　each　other's　thoughts　as　they　awaited　the　result　of　this　extraordinary　scene。　In　a　moment　the　forks　remained　inactive　in　every　hand；　silence　reigned；　and　every　eye　was　turned　to　the　Gars。　A　frightful　anger　showed　upon　his　face；　which　turned　waxen　in　tone。　He　leaned　towards　the　guest　from　whom　the　rocket　had　started　and　said；　in　a　voice　that　seemed　muffled　in　crape；　〃Death　of　my　soul！　count；　is　that　true？〃
  〃On　my　honor；〃　said　the　count；　bowing　gravely。
  The　marquis　lowered　his　eyes　for　a　moment；　then　he　raised　them　and　looked　fixedly　at　Marie；　who；　watchful　of　his　struggle；　knew　that　look　to　be　her　death…warrant。
  〃I　would　give　my　life；〃　he　said　in　a　low　voice；　〃for　revenge　on　the　spot。〃
  Madame　du　Gua　understood　the　words　from　the　mere　movement　of　the　young　man's　lips；　and　she　smiled　upon　him　as　we　smile　at　a　friend　whose　regrets　are　about　to　cease。　The　scorn　felt　for　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　and　shown　on　every　face；　brought　to　its　height　the　growing　indignation　of　the　two　Republicans；　who　now　rose　hastily：
  〃Do　you　want　anything；　citizens？〃　asked　Madame　du　Gua。
  〃Our　swords；　/citoyenne/；〃　said　Gerard；　sarcastically。
  〃You　do　not　need　them　at　table；〃　said　the　marquis；　coldly。
  〃No；　but　we　are　going　to　play　at　a　game　you　know　very　well；〃　replied　Gerard。　〃This　is　La　Pelerine　over　again。〃
  The　whole　party　seemed　dumfounded。　Just　then　a　volley；　fired　with　terrible　regularity；　echoed　through　the　courtyard。　The　two　officers　sprang　to　the　portico；　there　they　beheld　a　hundred　or　so　of　Chouans　aiming　at　the　few　soldiers　who　were　not　shot　down　at　the　first　discharge；　these　they　fired　upon　as　upon　so　many　hares。　The　Bretons　swarmed　from　the　bank；　where　Marche…a…Terre　had　posted　them　at　the　peril　of　their　lives；　for　after　the　last　volley；　and　mingling　with　the　cries　of　the　dying；　several　Chouans　were　heard　to　fall　into　the　lake；　where　they　were　lost　like　stones　in　a　gulf。　Pille…Miche　took　aim　at　Gerard；　Marche…a…Terre　held　Merle　at　his　mercy。
  〃Captain；〃　said　the　marquis　to　Merle；　repeating　to　the　Republican　his　own　words；　〃you　see　that　men　are　like　medlars；　they　ripen　on　the　straw。〃　He　pointed　with　a　wave　of　his　hand　to　the　entire　escort　of　the　Blues　lying　on　the　bloody　litter　where　the　Chouans　were　despatching　those　who　still　breathed；　and　rifling　the　dead　bodies　with　incredible　rapidity。　〃I　was　right　when　I　told　you　that　your　soldiers　will　not　get　as　far　as　La　Pelerine。　I　think；　moreover；　that　your　head　will　fill　with　lead　before　mine。　What　say　you？〃
  Montauran　felt　a　horrible　necessity　to　vent　his　rage。　His　bitter　sarcasm；　the　ferocity；　even　the　treachery　of　this　military　execution；　done　without　his　orders；　but　which　he　now　accepted；　satisfied　in　some　degree　the　craving　of　his　heart。　In　his　fury　he　would　fain　have　annihilated　France。　The　dead　Blues；　the　living　officers；　all　innocent　of　the　crime　for　which　he　demanded　vengeance；　were　to　him　the　cards　by　which　a　gambler　cheats　his　despair。
  〃I　would　rather　perish　than　conquer　as　you　are　conquering；〃　said　Gerard。　Then；　seeing　the　naked　and　bloody　corpses　of　his　men；　he　cried　out；　〃Murdered　basely；　in　cold　blood！〃
  〃That　was　how　you　murdered　Louis　XVI。；　monsieur；〃　said　the　marquis。
  〃Monsieur；〃　replied　Gerard；　haughtily；　〃there　are　mysteries　in　a　king's　trial　which　you　could　never　comprehend。〃
  〃Do　you　dare　to　accuse　the　king？〃　exclaimed　the　marquis。
  〃Do　you　dare　to　fight　your　country？〃　retorted　Gerard。
  〃Folly！〃　said　the　marquis。
  〃Parricide！〃　exclaimed　the　Republican。
  〃Well；　well；〃　cried　Merle；　gaily；　〃a　pretty　time　to　quarrel　at　the　moment　of　your　death。〃
  〃True；〃　said　Gerard；　coldly；　turning　to　the　marquis。　〃Monsieur；　if　it　is　your　intention　to　put　us　to　death；　at　least　have　the　goodness　to　shoot　us　at　once。〃
  〃Ah！　that's　like　you；　Gerard；〃　said　Merle；　〃always　in　a　hurry　to　finish　things。　But　if　one　has　to　travel　far　and　can't　breakfast　on　the　morrow；　at　least　we　might　sup。〃
  Gerard　sprang　forward　without　a　word　towards　the　wall。　Pille…Miche　covered　him；　glancing　as　he　did　so　at　the　motionless　marquis；　whose　silence　he　took　for　an　order；　and　the　adjutant…major　fell　like　a　tree。　Marche…a…Terre　ran　to　share　the　fresh　booty　with　Pille…Miche；　like　two　hungry　crows　they　disputed　and　clamored　over　the　still　warm　body。
  〃If　you　really　wish　to　finish　your　supper；　captain；　you　can　come　with　me；〃　said　the　marquis　to　Merle。
  The　captain　followed　him　mechanically；　saying　in　a　low　voice：　〃It　is　that　devil　of　a　strumpet　that　caused　all　this。　What　will　Hulot　say？〃
  〃Strumpet！〃　cried　the　marquis　in　a　strangled　voice；　〃then　she　is　one？〃
  The　captain　seemed　to　have　given　Montauran　a　death…blow；　for　he　re…entered　the　house　with　a　staggering　step；　pale；　haggard；　and　undone。
  Another　scene　had　meanwhile　taken　place　in　the　dining…room；　which　assumed；　in　the　marquis's　absence；　such　a　threatening　character　that　Marie；　alone　without　her　protector；　might　well　fancy　she　read　her　death…warrant　in　the　eyes　of　her　rival。　At　the　noise　of　the　volley　the　guests　all　sprang　to　their　feet；　but　Madame　du　Gua　remained　seated。
  〃It　is　nothing；〃　she　said；　〃our　men　are　despatching　the　Blues。〃　Then；　seeing　the　marquis　outside　on　the　portico；　she　rose。　〃Mademoiselle　whom　you　here　see；〃　she　continued；　with　the　calmness　of　concentrated　fury；　〃came　here　to　betray　the　Gars！　She　meant　to　deliver　him　up　to　the　Republic。〃
  〃I　could　have　done　so　twenty　times　to…day　and　yet　I　saved　his　life；〃　said　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil。
  Madame　du　Gua　sprang　upon　her　rival　like　lightning；　in　her　blind　excitement　she　tore　apart　the　fastenings　of　the　young　girl's　spencer；　the　stuff；　the　embroidery；　the　corset；　the　chemise；　and　plunged　her　savage　hand　into　the　bosom　where；　as　she　well　knew；　a　letter　lay　hidden。　In　doing　this　her　jealousy　so　bruised　and　tore　the　palpitating　throat　of　her　rival；　taken　by　surprise　at　the　sudden　attack；　that　she　left　the　bloody　marks　of　her　nails；　feeling　a　sort　of　pleasure　in　making　her　submit　to　so　degrading　a　prostitution。　In　the　feeble　struggle　which　Marie　made　against　the　furious　woman；　her　hair　became　unfastened　and　fell　in　undulating　curls　about　her　shoulders；　her　face　glowed　with　outraged　modesty；　and　tears　made　their　burning　way　along　her　cheeks；　heightening　the　brilliancy　of　her　eyes；　as　she　quivered　with　shame　before　the　looks　of　the　assembled　men。　The　hardest　judge　would　have　believed　in　her　innocence　when　he　saw　her　sorrow。
  Hatred　is　so　uncalculating　that　Madame　du　Gua　did　not　perceive　she　had　overshot　her　mark；　and　that　no　one　listened　to　her　as　she　cried　triumphantly：　〃You　shall　now　see；　gentlemen；　whether　I　have　slandered　that　horrible　creature。〃
  〃Not　so　horrible；〃　said　the　bass　voice　of　the　guest　who　had　thrown　the　first　stone。　〃But　for　my　part；　I　like　such　horrors。〃
  〃Here；〃　continued　the　cruel　woman；　〃is　an　order　signed　by　Laplace；　and　counter…signed　by　Dubois；　minister　of　war。〃　At　these　names　several　heads　were　turned　to　her。　〃Listen　to　the　wording　of　it；〃　she　went　on。
  〃'The　military　citizen　commanders　of　all　grades；　the　district　　　administrators；　the　/procureur…syndics/；　et　cetera；　of　the　　　insurgent　departments；　and　particularly　those　of　the　localities　in　　　which　the　ci…devant　Marquis　de　Montauran；　leader　of　the　brigands　　　and　otherwise　known　as　the　Gars；　may　be　found；　are　hereby　　　commanded　to　give　aid　and　assistance　to　the　/citoyenne/　Marie　　　Verneuil　and　to　obey　the　orders　which　she　may　give　them　at　her　　　discretion。'
  〃A　worthless　hussy　takes　a　noble　name　to　soil　it　with　such　treachery；〃　added　Madame　du　Gua。
  A　movement　of　astonishment　ran　through　the　assembly。
  〃The　fight　is　not　even　if　the　Republic　employs　such　pretty　women　against　us；〃　said　the　Baron　du　Guenic　gaily。
  〃Especially　women　who　have　nothing　to　lose；〃　said　Madame　du　Gua。
  〃Nothing？〃　cried　the　Chevalier　du　Vissard。　〃Mademoiselle　has　a　property　which　probably　brings　her　in　a　pretty　good　sum。〃
  〃The　Republic　must　like　a　joke；　to　send　strumpets　for　ambassadors；〃　said　the　Abbe　Gudin。
  〃Unfortunately；　Mademoiselle　seeks　the　joys　that　kill；〃　said　Madame　du　Gua；　with　a　horrible　expression　of　pleasure　at　the　end　she　foresaw。
  〃Then　why　are　you　still　living？〃　said　her　victim；　rising　to　her　feet；　after　repairing　the　disorder　of　her　clothes。
  This　bitter　sarcasm　excited　a　sort　of　respect　for　so　brave　a　victim；　and　silenced　the　assembly。　Madame　du　Gua　saw　a　satirical　smile　on　the　lips　of　the　men；　which　infuriated　her；　and　paying　no　attention　to　the　marquis　and　Merle　who　were　entering　the　room；　she　called　to　the　Chouan　who　followed　them。　〃Pille…Miche！〃　she　said；　pointing　to　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil；　〃take　her；　she　is　my　share　of　the　booty；　and　I　turn　her　over　to　youdo　what　you　like　with　her。〃
  At　these　words　the　whole　assembly　shuddered；　for　the　hideous　heads　of　Pille…Miche　and　Marche…a…Terre　appeared　behind　the　marquis；　and　the　punishment　was　seen　in　all　its　horror。
  Francine　was　standing　with　clasped　h