“I crossed the river with him,” answered Foret, “and brought him on as far as Remouille.  He wished to be carried to the hospital you have opened at St. Laurent, and unless he has died since I left him, he is there now.  I hurried on by Montacue and Tiffauges to St. Laurent; and there, M. Henri, I saw Mademoiselle Agatha, and told her what had happened.  If there be an angel upon earth she is one!  When I told her that the good Cathelineau was dying, every shade of colour left her beautiful cheek; she became as pale as marble, and crossed her hands upon her bosom; she spoke to me not a word, nor did I look for reply, for I knew that in her heart she was praying that his soul might be taken up to heaven.”

Henri at that moment remembered the enthusiastic declaration of his sister, that Cathelineau, despite his birth, was worthy of any woman’s love, and he did not begrudge her the only means which now remained to her of proving her devotion to the character she had admired.

“I told her,” continued Foret, “that if he lived so long, Cathelineau would reach the hospital on the following day, and then I hurried on to you.  She told me I should find you here.  It was then dark, but I reached Chatillon that night, for they sent a guide with me from St. Laurent.  I left Chatillon again at the break of day, and have not lost much time in arriving here.”

“No, indeed, Foret; and surely you must need rest and refreshment,” said de Lescure.  “Come into the chateau, and you shall have both.”

“But tell us, Foret, of this reverse at Nantes,” said Henri.  “I will at once start for St. Laurent; I will, if possible, see Cathelineau before he dies; but let me know before I go to him how it has come to pass that victory has at last escaped him.”

“Victory did not escape him,” said Foret:  “he was victorious to the last—­victorious till he fell.  You know, gentlemen, it had been arranged that Nantes should be attacked at the same moment by Charette from the southern banks of the Loire, and by Cathelineau from the northern, but this we were not able to accomplish.  Charette was at his post, and entered the town gallantly over the Pont Rousseau, but we were unable to be there at the appointed time.  For ten hours we were detained by a detachment of the blues at the little town of Nort, and though we carried it at last, without losing many of our men, the loss of the precious hours was very grievous.  We pushed on to Nantes, however, without losing another minute, and though we found the rebels ready to receive us, they could not hold their ground against us at all.  We drove them from the town in every direction.  We were already in the chief square of Nantes, assured of our victory, and leading our men to one last attack, when a musket ball struck Cathelineau on the arm, and passing through the flesh entered his breast.  He was on foot, in front of the brave peasants whom he was leading, and they all saw him fall.  Oh, M. de Lescure,