“I will tell you in due time. Begin with the first.”
“State it.”
“General Hatry and his hundred men are surrounded by a triple force. I offer them their lives; but they must lay down their arms, and make oath not to serve again in the Vendée for five years.”
Roland shook his head.
“Better that than to see his men annihilated.”
“Maybe so; but he would prefer to have his men annihilated, and be annihilated with them.”
“Don’t you think,” asked Cadoudal, laughing, “that it might be as well, in any case, to ask him?”
“True,” said Roland.
“Well, colonel, be so good as to mount your horse, make yourself known to him, and deliver my proposal.”
“Very well,” replied Roland.