and as the authors of these outrages remained undiscovered, they credited them all to Mme. de Combray’s inspiration, and this accusation without proof is none too bold.  The theft of state funds was a bagatelle to people whom ten years of implacable warfare had rendered blase about all brigandage.  Moreover, it was easily conceivable that the snare laid by Bonaparte for Frotte, who was so popular in Normandy, the summary execution of the General and his six officers, the assassination of the Duc d’Enghien, the death of Georges Cadoudal (almost a god to the Chouans) and of his brave companions, following so many imprisonments without trial, acts of police treachery, traps and denunciations paid for and rewarded, had exasperated the vanquished royalists, and envenomed their hatred to the point of believing any expedient justifiable.  Such was the state of mind of Mme. de Combray in the middle of 1804, at which date we have stopped the recital of the marital misfortunes of Mme. Acquet de Ferolles, and it justified Bonald’s saying:  “Foolish deeds done by clever men, extravagances uttered by men of intellect, crimes committed by honest people—­such is the story of the revolution.”

* * * * *

D’Ache had taken refuge at Tournebut.  He had left Paris as soon as the gates were opened, and whether he had escaped surveillance more cleverly than the brothers Gaillard, whether he had been able to get immediately to Saint-Germain where he had a refuge, and from there, without risking the passage of a ferry or a bridge, without stopping at any inn, had succeeded in covering in one day the fifteen leagues that separated him from Gaillon, he arrived without mishap at Tournebut where Mme. de Combray immediately shut the door of one of the hiding-places upon him.

Tournebut was familiar ground to d’Ache.  He was related to Mme. de Combray, and before the Revolution, when he was on furlough, he had made long visits there while “grandmere Brunelle” was still alive.  He had been back since then and had spent there part of the autumn of 1803.  There had been a grand reunion at the chateau then, to celebrate the marriage of M. du Hasey, proprietor of a chateau near Gaillon.  Du Hasey was aide-de-camp to Guerin de Bruslard, the famous Chouan whom Frotte had designated as his successor to the command of the royal army, and who had only had to disband it.  This reunion, which is often mentioned in the reports, by the nature and quality of the guests, was more important than an ordinary wedding-feast.

D’Ache learned at Tournebut of the proclamation of the Empire and the death of Georges.  He looked upon it as a death-blow to the royalist hopes; where-ever one might turn there was no resource—­no chiefs, no money, no men.  If many royalists remained in the Orne and the Manche, it was impossible to group them or pay them.  The government gained strength and authority daily; at the slightest movement France