"Do you mean that this road is utterly impassable?" he said to Angelot. "How then did these gentlemen--" "They did not come from Lancilly. They drove across the moor from my uncle's house, Les Chouettes, and turned into the lane a few hundred yards higher up. As to impassable--I think your wheels will come off, if you attempt it, and your horses' knees will suffer. Where the ruts are not two feet deep, the bare rock is almost perpendicular." "Still it is not impassable?" "Not in a case of necessity. But you will not attempt it." "And why not?" "Because on this hill Monsieur des Barres and Monsieur d'Ombré cannot back out of your way, and you can back out of theirs--and must." "'Must' to me!" Georges de Sainfoy said between his teeth. "Let us assure you, monsieur, that we regret the necessity--" Monsieur des Barres interfered in his politest manner. "Enough, monsieur." De Sainfoy gave his orders. His servants sprang down and helped the post-boy to back the horses to the foot of the hill. It was a long business, with a great deal of kicking, struggling, scrambling, and swearing. Monsieur des Barres' carriage followed slowly, he and Georges de Sainfoy walking down together. The Baron d'Ombré lingered to say a friendly good-night to Angelot, who was not disposed to wait on his cousin any further. That night there was born a kind of sympathy, new and strange, between the fierce young Chouan and the careless boy still halting between two opinions. "Old Joubard's son is come back, then?" César asked. "Will that attach the old man to the Empire? Your uncle can never tell us on which side he is likely to be." "Dame! I should think not!" said Angelot. "Poor Martin--I saw him just now. He has left a leg and an arm in Spain." "Poor fellow! That flourishing cousin of yours is better off. On my word, we are obliged to you, Monsieur des Barres and I. If you had not been there to bring him to his senses--Come, Angelot, this country is not a place for loyal men. Do you care to stay here and be bullied by upstart soldiers? Start off with me to join the Princes; there is nothing to be done here." "Ah!" Angelot laughed, though rather sadly. "Indeed, you tempt me--it is true, there is nothing here. But I have a father, and he has a vintage coming on. After that--I will consider." "Yes, consider--and say nothing. I see you are discontented; the first step in the right way. Good-night, my friend." If discontent had been despair, the army of the emigrants might have had a lively recruit in those days. But Martin Joubard had come back, so that anything seemed possible. Hope was not dead, and his native Anjou still held the heart of Angelot. CHAPTER XVIII HOW CAPTAIN GEORGES PAID A VISIT OF CEREMONY Georges de Sainfoy had always been his mother's image and idol. It was not wonderful then that he should take her side strongly in this matter of his sister's love affair and marriage.