“And what village are we nearest to, my friend?” said Chapeau, inquiring of the man who had given the above unwelcome information.
“Why the chapel of Genet,” said he, “is but a short quarter of a league from you, and the Curé’s house is close by, but the village and the château are a long way beyond that, and not on the straight road either.”
“Ask him the Curé’s name, Chapeau,” said Marie: “we will go there and tell him, who we are.’
“If he lives in his own house quietly now, Mademoiselle,” answered Chapeau, “it would be dangerous to do so; he must be one of the constitutional priests.” He asked the man, however, what was the name of the Curé.
“Why the regular old Curé went away long since, and another was here a while in his place—”
“Well, and he has gone away now, I suppose?” said Chapeau.
“Why, yes; he went away too a while since, when Cathelineau turned the soldiers out of St. Florent.”
“God bless him,” said Chapeau, meaning Cathelineau, and not the priest. “And is there no one in the house now, my friend? for you see these two ladies are unable to travel further. If there be a friend living there, I am sure he will procure them some accommodation.”
“And where did the ladies come from?” asked the man.
“You need not be afraid,” replied Chapeau, “they, and all belonging to them, are friends to the good cause;” and then, after considering within himself for a while, he added, “I will tell you who they are, they are the wife and sister of M. de Lescure.”