“Why not?”
“We are not soldiers, my darling child. We are not even rebels. We are Companions of Jehu.”
Amélie sighed.
“We are bandits, brigands, highwaymen,” said Morgan, dwelling on the words with evident intention.
“Hush!” said Amélie, laying her hand on her lover’s lips. “Hush! don’t let us speak of that. Tell me how it is that your king has released you, and your general also.”
“The First Consul wished to see Cadoudal. In the first place, he sent your brother to him with certain proposals. Cadoudal refused to come to terms; but, like ourselves, he received orders from Louis XVIII. to cease hostilities. Coincident with that order came another message from the First Consul to Cadoudal. It was a safeguard for the Vendéan general, and an invitation to come to Paris; an overture from one power to another power. Cadoudal accepted, and is now on his way to Paris. If it is not peace, it is at least a truce.”
“Oh, what joy, my Charles!”
“Don’t rejoice too much, my love.”
“Why not?”
“Do you know why they have issued this order to suspend hostilities?”