Kleber's--who waits upon the banks of the river to cut off your retreat. LA ROCHE. [_Smiling_.] We do not propose to retreat, but to advance. PRISONER. Before another day you will be driven, routed, into the heart of Vendée. LA ROCHE. If boasting wins, your side will doubtless better ours. PRISONER. If blows win--your side is sure to fail. You've not a regiment that's trained better than a pack of boys! LA HOGUE. I wish he were a liar, but he isn't. LA ROCHE. Our boys struck hard enough, it seems, to capture you. PRISONER. We were ten, surprised by a battalion, and yet it cost you nearly fifty of your friends to take but ten of us. LA HOGUE. There he goes again riddling us with facts. LA ROCHE. Sir,--you know there is no quarter given to traitors found in arms against the King. PRISONER. France has no sovereign but the people.--It is you who are the traitors. LA ROCHE. Answer civilly and I may show you mercy. PRISONER. I neither ask, nor accept mercy. I have done my best to deal a crushing blow to you.--So call your guards, and shoot me without more waste of words. LA ROCHE. I see that you are brave. PRISONER. Brave? Because I'm not afraid to die? [_Laughs bitterly_.] Bah! It takes more courage sometimes to consent to live. LA ROCHE. You are young, a Frenchman, and--though misled--a credit to your country. If you'll give me some excuse, I swear I'd rather spare your life. PRISONER. [_Laughing_.] Thank you, General; but frankly, I'd rather give you some excuse to take it. _Tremendous explosion heard in the distance. Then a second explosion. The Faubourg in middle ground is blown up and is seen to burn into a blaze_. LA ROCHE. My God!--See!--The Faubourg! PRISONER. [_Triumphantly_.] Blown up and burning!--In an hour the houses that were to shelter your attack on our defenses will be gone, and you will have to fight our forces in the open field.--That means defeat for you. LA HOGUE. Sacristi! Gag this rogue, or we'll be whipped before we fight. LA ROCHEJACQUELEIN _writes hastily, and strikes a bell. Enter GOUROC, who starts and goes out again with a gesture of menace towards the_ PRISONER. _Enter_ ORDERLY. LA ROCHE. [_To_ ORDERLY.] Despatch these orders instantly, and send a guard with loaded muskets here at once. [_Exit_ ORDERLY.] [_Turning despondently to_ LA HOGUE.] I fear this is a death-blow to our plans to-night. PRISONER. A death-blow dealt by me!--You'd better kill me quickly before I do more damage. LA ROCHE. You are right, sir; I should be faithless to my King if I showed you mercy now. PRISONER. Bravo! Mercy to enemies is as base as cruelty to friends. LA HOGUE. Damn me! There's no fun in killing such a fool--he seems to like it! [_Enter_ ORDERLY _with_ GUARDS. LA ROCHE. [_To_ ORDERLY.] Take the prisoner outside and shoot him there at once. [GUARD _crosses to_ PRISONER.] Have you any last request? PRISONER.