"No," replied the other; "but he has the pigeon-post, and carrier-pigeons travel forty-eight miles an hour. In short, the news came to Strasbourg, where pigeons abound, and I myself saw the little note in the Prince's hands. The note was small, having been fastened under the bird's wing, but the writing was fine, and therefore it contained several details."
"And do you know what they were?"
"The city capitulated on the 19th. That same day part of the besieging army entered, and, in the evening, by order of the commissioner of the Convention, two hundred and thirteen persons were shot."
"Is that all? Did it not mention a certain Buonaparte?"
"Yes, indeed; it said that the capture of the city was due to him."
"He is certainly my cousin," said Abatucci, laughing.
"And my pupil," added Pichegru. "Faith, so much the better! The Republic needs men of genius to offset such wretches as Fouché."
"Fouché?"
"Was it not Fouché who followed the French army to Lyons, and on the first day he was in power ordered two hundred and thirteen men shot?"
"Ah, yes; but that was at Lyons. At Toulon it is citizen Barras."