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But that； as he straightforwardly revealed it； was no part of his
intent。
〃Ah； wait！〃 he bade them。 〃Is this miserable instrument of a
corrupt system worth the attention of your noble indignation？〃
He hoped his words would be reported to M。 de Lesdiguieres。 He
thought it would be good for the soul of M。 de Lesdiguieres to hear
the undiluted truth about himself for once。
〃It is the system itself you must attack and overthrow； not a mere
instrument … a miserable painted lath such as this。 And precipitancy
will spoil everything。 Above all； my children； no violence！〃
My children！ Could his godfather have heard him！
〃You have seen often already the result of premature violence
elsewhere in Brittany； and you have heard of it elsewhere in France。
Violence on your part will call for violence on theirs。 They will
welcome the chance to assert their mastery by a firmer grip than
heretofore。 The military will be sent for。 You will be faced by
the bayonets of mercenaries。 Do not provoke that； I implore you。
Do not put it into their power； do not afford them the pretext they
would welcome to crush you down into the mud of your own blood。〃
Out of the silence into which they had fallen anew broke now the
cry of
〃What else； then？ What else？〃
〃I will tell you；〃 he answered them。 〃The wealth and strength of
Brittany lies in Nantes … a bourgeois city； one of the most
prosperous in this realm； rendered so by the energy of the
bourgeoisie and the toil of the people。 It was in Nantes that
this movement had its beginning； and as a result of it the King
issued his order dissolving the States as now constituted … an
order which those who base their power on Privilege and Abuse do
not hesitate to thwart。 Let Nantes be informed of the precise
situation； and let nothing be done here until Nantes shall have
given us the lead。 She has the power … which we in Rennes have
not … to make her will prevail； as we have seen already。 Let her
exert that power once more； and until she does so do you keep the
peace in Rennes。 Thus shall you triumph。 Thus shall the outrages
that are being perpetrated under your eyes be fully and finally
avenged。〃
As abruptly as he had leapt upon the plinth did he now leap down
from it。 He had finished。 He had said all … perhaps more than
all … that could have been said by the dead friend with whose voice
he spoke。 But it was not their will that he should thus extinguish
himself。 The thunder of their acclamations rose deafeningly upon
the air。 He had played upon their emotions … each in turn … as a
skilful harpist plays upon the strings of his instrument。 And they
were vibrant with the passions he had aroused； and the high note of
hope on which he had brought his symphony to a close。
A dozen students caught him as he leapt down； and swung him to their
shoulders； where again he came within view of all the acclaiming
crowd。
The delicate Le Chapelier pressed alongside of him with flushed face
and shining eyes。
〃My lad；〃 he said to him； 〃you have kindled a fire to…day that will
sweep the face of France in a blaze of liberty。〃 And then to the
students he issued a sharp command。 〃To the Literary Chamber …at
once。 We must concert measures upon the instant； a delegate must
be dispatched to Nantes forthwith； to convey to our friends there
the message of the people of Rennes。〃
The crowd fell back； opening a lane through which the students bore
the hero of the hour。 Waving his hands to them； he called upon
them to disperse to their homes； and await there in patience what
must follow very soon。
〃You have endured for centuries with a fortitude that is a pattern
to the world；〃 he flattered them。 〃Endure a little longer yet。 The
end； my friends； is well in sight at last。〃
They carried him out of the square and up the Rue Royale to an old
house； one of the few old houses surviving in that city that had
risen from its ashes； where in an upper chamber lighted by
diamond…shaped panes of yellow glass the Literary Chamber usually
held its meetings。 Thither in his wake the members of that chamber
came hurrying； summoned by the messages that Le Chapelier had issued
during their progress。
Behind closed doors a flushed and excited group of some fifty men；
the majority of whom were young； ardent； and afire with the illusion
of liberty； hailed Andre…Louis as the strayed sheep who had returned
to the fold； and smothered him in congratulations and thanks。
Then they settled down to deliberate upon immediate measures； whilst
the doors below were kept by a guard of honour that had improvised
itself from the masses。 And very necessary was this。 For no sooner
had the Chamber assembled than the house was assailed by the
gendarmerie of M。 de Lesdiguieres； dispatched in haste to arrest the
firebrand who was inciting the people of Rennes to sedition。 The
force consisted of fifty men。 Five hundred would have been too few。
The mob broke their carbines； broke some of their heads； and would
indeed have torn them into pieces had they not beaten a timely and
well…advised retreat before a form of horseplay to which they were
not at all accustomed。
And whilst that was taking place in the street below； in the room
abovestairs the eloquent Le Chapelier was addressing his colleagues
of the Literary Chamber。 Here； with no bullets to fear； and no
one to report his words to the authorities； Le Chapelier could
permit his oratory a full； unintimidated flow。 And that considerable
oratory was as direct and brutal as the man himself was delicate and
elegant。
He praised the vigour and the greatness of the speech they had heard
from their colleague Moreau。 Above all he praised its wisdom。
Moreau's words had come as a surprise to them。 Hitherto they had
never known him as other than a bitter critic of their projects of
reform and regeneration； and quite lately they had heard； not without
misgivings； of his appointment as delegate for a nobleman in the
States of Brittany。 But they held the explanation of his conversion。
The murder of their dear colleague Vilmorin had produced this change。
In that brutal deed Moreau had beheld at last in true proportions
the workings of that evil spirit which they were vowed to exorcise
from France。 And to…day he had proven himself the stoutest apostle
among them of the new faith。 He had pointed out to them the only
sane and useful course。 The illustration he had borrowed from
natural history was most apt。 Above all； let them pack like the
wolves； and to ensure this uniformity of action in the people of
all Brittany； let a delegate at once be sent to Nantes； which had
already proved itself the real seat of Brittany's power。 It but
remained to appoint that delegate； and Le Chapelier invited them
to elect him。
Andre…Louis； on a bench near the window； a prey now to some measure
of reaction； listened in bewilderment to that flood of eloquence。
As the applause died down； he heard a voice exclaiming：
〃I propose to you that we appoint our leader here； Le Chapelier； to
be that delegate。〃
Le Chapelier reared his elegantly dressed head； which had been bowed
in thought； and it was seen that his countenance was pale。 Nervously
he fingered a gold spy…glass。
〃My friends；〃 he said； slowly； 〃I am deeply sensible of the honour
that you do me。 But in accepting it I should be usurping an honour
that rightly belongs elsewhere。 Who could represent us better； who
more deserving to be our representative； to speak to our friends of
Nantes with the voice of Rennes； than the champion who once already
to…day has so incomparably given utterance to the voice of this
great city？ Confer this honour of being your spokesman where it
belongs … upon Andre…Louis Moreau。〃
Rising in response to the storm of applause that greeted the
proposal； Andre…Louis bowed and forthwith yielded。 〃Be it so；〃 he
said； simply。 〃It is perhaps fitting that I should carry out what
I have begun； though I too am of the opinion that Le Chapelier would
have been a worthier representative。 I will set out to…night。〃
〃You will set out at once； my lad；〃 Le Chapelier informed him； and
now revealed what an uncharitable mind might account the true source
of his generosity。 〃It is not safe after what has happened for you
to linger an hour in Rennes。 And you must go secretly。 Let none
of you allow it to be known that he has gone。 I would not have you
come to harm over this； Andre…Louis。 But you must see the risks
you run； and if you are to be spared to help in this work of
salvation of our afflicted motherland； you must use caution； move
secretly； veil your identity even。 Or else M。 de Lesdiguieres will
have you laid by the heels； and it will be good…night for you。〃
CHAPTER VIII
OMNES OMNIBUS
Andre…Louis rode forth from Rennes committed to a deeper adventure
than he had dreamed of when he left the sleepy village of Gavrillac。
Lying the night at a roadside inn； and setting out again early in
the morning； he reached Nantes soon after noon of the following day。
Through that long and lonely ride through the dull plains of
Brittany； now at their dreariest in their winter garb； he h