CHAPTER XXXII.
WHAT M. DE BOUILLE DID IN THE MEANTIME.
M. de Bouillé was at Dun, where he had passed the night in a state of mortal disquietude.
It was the advanced post of his watch.
At three o’clock, having received no news, he proceeded to Stenay.
At Stenay he was in the centre of his forces, and was able to act with greater facility, having at his disposal a great number of men.
From four to five o’clock he was successively joined by M. de Rohrig, M. de Raigecourt, and by his son.
He then knew all.
But M. de Bouillé could but little depend on his men. He was surrounded by hostile villagers, as he called them—that is to say, patriotic. He was menaced by Metz, by Verdun, and by Stenay. It was his fear of Stenay that had caused him to quit Dun.