"And now," said Petit-Pierre, folding the letter, "what day shall we fix for the uprising?"
"Thursday, May 31," said the marquis, thinking that the nearest time was the best, "if that is satisfactory to you."
"No," said Gaspard; "excuse me, Monsieur le marquis, but it seems to me best to choose the night of Sunday, the 3d to the 4th of June. On Sunday, after high mass, the peasants of all the parishes assemble in the porches of their different churches, and the captains will have an opportunity to communicate the order without exciting suspicion."
"Your knowledge of the manners and customs of this region is a great help, my friend," said Petit-Pierre, "and I agree to your advice. Let the date be therefore the night of the 3d to the 4th of June."
Whereupon, she began at once to write the following order:--
Having resolved not to leave the provinces of the West, but to confide myself to their fidelity,--a fidelity so often proved,--I rely upon you, monsieur, to take all necessary measures in your division for the call to arms which is appointed to take place during the night of the 3d and 4th of June.
I summon to my side all faithful hearts. God will help us to save the country; no danger, no fatigue, shall discourage me. I shall be present at the first engagement.
To this document Petit-Pierre signed her name as follows:--
MARIE-CAROLINE, Regent of France.
"There, the die is cast!" cried Petit-Pierre. "Now it remains to conquer or die."