"Do you authorise me to wear some sort of uniform, General?" I asked after I had read it. "Of course," he replied; "have something made resembling an aide-de-camp's uniform." "Very well." "Only, I must warn you that a uniform is the most unsafe dress you could adopt in travelling through la Vendée; there are many hedges and not a few deep lanes, especially in le Bocage, and a rifle-shot is soon despatched!" "Bah! General, we will see about that when we are there." "All right! it is settled, then, and you mean to go?" "Directly the uniform is made, General." "And you will correspond with me direct?" "Of course!" "Then go, and _bon voyage!_ I must now attend the Chamber." He embraced me, and I took leave. I have often seen the noble, dignified, excellent old man since. The reader will meet him again at my house at an evening's entertainment I gave, an artists' fancy dress ball, himself in costume, playing écarté with Beauchesne, dressed as Charette, playing his stakes with louis bearing the effigy of Henry V., like the true Vendean he was. I was astonished to come across the matter of the original letter of Favras, as far as I can remember, word for word, in that excellent and conscientious work by Louis Blanc upon the Revolution. It is from that work I borrow my copy, and I refer my readers to it if they would like more details about the unfortunate Favras, who denied Monsieur to La Fayette whilst the latter had the prince's letter in his pocket and only had to draw it forth to prove his dishonourableness. CHAPTER VI Léon Pillet--His uniform--Soissonnais susceptibility--Harel returns to the charge with his play--I set out for la Vendée--The quarry--I obtain pardon for a coiner condemned to the galleys--My stay at Meurs--Commandant Bourgeois--Disastrous effect of the tricolours in le Bocage--Fresh proofs that a kindness done is never lost