The indecision is terrible; but the leader encourages his men, there are
a few of Napoleon's old soldiers in the ranks. A struggle begins, all
the more frightful by reason of the darkness!
But it is not the cry of "Forward!" that suddenly rends the air.
The voice of a coward sends up the cry of panic:
"We are betrayed! Let him save himself who can!"
This is the end of all order. A wild fear seizes the throng; and these
men flee madly, despairingly, scattered as withered leaves are scattered
by the power of the tempest.
CHAPTER XXIII
Chupin's stupefying revelations and the thought that Martial, the heir
of his name and dukedom, should degrade himself so low as to enter into
a conspiracy with vulgar peasants, drove the Duc de Sairmeuse nearly
wild.
But the Marquis de Courtornieu's coolness restored the duke's
_sang-froid_.
He ran to the barracks, and in less than half an hour five hundred
foot-soldiers and three hundred of the Montaignac chasseurs were under
arms.
With these forces at his disposal it would have been easy enough
to suppress this movement without the least bloodshed.
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