In spite of the speedy appearance of his townspeople, the Mayor persisted in his operations on the bell-rope until the perspiration ran down his face.  He was sounding the tocsin, and he felt the importance of what he was doing.  Every one knew that a tocsin bell to be duly rung, should be rung long and loud—­not with a little merry jingle, such as befitted the announcement of a wedding, but in a manner to strike astonishment, if not alarm, into its hearers; and on this occasion great justice was done to the tocsin.

“That will do, M. Mayor; that will do, I think!” said the Cure, “it looks to me as though our friends were all here.”

The Mayor gave an awful pull, the bell leapt wildly up, gave one loud concluding flourish, and then was quiet.

“Now, M. Mayor,” said the Cure, “you have by heart the few words I gave you, have you not?”

“Indeed, Father Jerome, I have,” said the Mayor, “and am not likely to forget them.  Let me see—­let me see.  Now, my friends, will you be quiet a moment while I speak to you.  Ambrose Corvelin, will you hold your noisy tongue awhile—­perhaps M. de Larochejaquelin, I had better get up on the wall, they will hear me better?”

“Do, M. Mayor, do,” said Henri; and the Mayor was lifted on to the low wall which ran round the churchyard, and roared out the following words, at the top of his voice: 

“In the holy name of God, and by command of the King, this parish of Echanbroignes is invited to send as many men as possible to Saumur, to be there, or at any other such place in the neighbourhood as may be appointed, at three o’clock on the afternoon of the 9th of June.  And may God defend the right.  Amen!” And having said this, the Mayor jumped off the wall, and the crowd commenced shouting and cheering.

“Wait one moment, and hear me say a few words, my friends,” said Henri, springing to the place which the Mayor had just left.  “Most of you, I believe, know who I am.”

“We do, M Henri,” said they.  “We do, M. Larochejaquelin.  We all know who you are.  We know that you are our friend.”

“I am very glad you think so,” continued he; “for you will know, that if I am your friend, I shall not deceive you.  I have come here to ask you to share with me the honour and the danger of restoring his father’s kingdom and his father’s throne to the son of your murdered King.  I have come here to ask you also to assist me and others, who are your friends, in protecting yourselves, your pastors, your houses, your wives and daughters, from the tyranny and cruelty of the republicans.”

“We will!” shouted the crowd.  “We will go at once.  We will be at Saumur on Wednesday.  We will follow M. Larochejaquelin wherever he would lead us.”

“You all know Cathelineau,” continued Henri; “you all know the good postillion of St. Florent?”

“We do, God bless him! we do.  We all know the Saint of Anjou.”

“Come and meet him, my friends, under the walls of Saumur; or rather, I should say, come and meet him within the walls of Saumur.  Come and greet the noble fellows of St. Florent, who have set us so loyal an example.  Come and meet the brave men of Fontenay, who trampled on the dirty tricolour, and drove out General Coustard from his covert, like a hunted fox.  He is now at Saumur; we will turn him out from thence.”