The general stooped, and Monte-à-l’assaut said a few words in his ear.
“Bénédicité has already warned me,” said Georges. Then turning to Roland, he said, “Something of importance is to happen in the village of the Trinité in a quarter of an hour, which you ought to see. Come, hurry up.”
And, setting the example, he put his horse to a gallop. Roland did the same.
When they reached the village they could see from a distance, by the light of some pine torches, a tumultuous mob in the market square. The cries and movements of this mob bespoke some grave occurrence.
“Fast, fast!” cried Cadoudal.
Roland asked no better; he dug his spurs in his horse’s belly.
At the clatter of horses’ hoofs the peasants scattered. There were five or six hundred of them at least, all armed.
Cadoudal and Roland found themselves in a circle of light in the midst of cries and agitation.
The crowd was pressing more particularly toward the opening of a street which led to the village of Tridon. A diligence was coming down that street escorted by a dozen Chouans; two on either side of the postilion, ten others guarding the doors. The carriage stopped in the middle of the market-square. All were so intent upon the diligence that they paid but scant attention to Cadoudal.
“Hola,” shouted Georges. “What is all this?”