"You are mistaken, Montlouis," said Pontcalec, "it is duty above all which influences me, and besides, if I do not die for this, you will not, for I am your chief, and certainly before the judges I should reclaim the title which I have abjured to-day. If I do not die by Dubois, neither will you. We soldiers, and afraid to pay an official visit to parliament, for that is it, after all, and nothing else; benches covered with black robes--smiles of intelligence between the accused and the judge: it is a battle with the regent; let us accept it, and when parliament shall absolve us, we shall have done as well as if we had put to flight all the troops in Bretagne." "Montlouis proposed to refer it to a majority," said Du Couëdic, "let us do so." "I did not speak from fear," said Montlouis; "but I do not see the use of walking into the lion's mouth if we can muzzle him." "That was unnecessary, Montlouis," said Pontcalec; "we all know you, and we accept your proposition. Let those who are for flight hold up their hands." Montlouis and Du Couëdic raised their hands. "We are two and two," said Montlouis; "we must, then, trust to inspiration." "You forget," said Pontcalec, "that, as president, I have two votes." "It is true." "Let those, then, who are for remaining here hold up their hands." Pontcalec and Talhouet raised their hands; thus the majority was fixed. This deliberation in the open street might have seemed absurd, had it not involved in its results the question of life or death to four of the noblest gentlemen in Bretagne. "Well," said Montlouis, "it appears, Du Couëdic, that we were wrong: and now, marquis, we obey your orders." "See what I do," said Pontcalec, "and then do as you like." And he walked straight up to his house, followed by his three friends. Arriving at the door, he tapped a soldier on the shoulder. "My friend," said he, "call your officer, I beg." The soldier passed the order to the sergeant, who called the captain. "What do you want?" asked the latter.----"I want to come into my house." "Who are you?" "I am the Marquis de Pontcalec." "Silence!" said the officer, in a low voice, "and fly instantly--I am here to arrest you." Then aloud, "You cannot pass," said he, pushing back the marquis, and closing in his soldiers before him. Pontcalec took the officer's hand, pressed it, and said: "You are a brave fellow, but I must go in. I thank you, and may God reward you!" The officer, surprised, opened his ranks, and Pontcalec, followed by his friends, crossed the court. On seeing him, his family uttered cries of terror. "What is it?" asked the marquis, calmly; "and what is going on here?" "I arrest you, Monsieur le Marquis," said an exempt of the provost of Paris. "Pardieu! what a fine exploit!" said Montlouis; "and you seem a clever fellow--you, a provost's exempt, and absolutely those whom you are sent to arrest are obliged to come and take you by the collar."