I'll tell you what, Charles, we ought to follow them to Parthenay." "Impossible," said de Lescure.
"Why impossible, Charles?
Why is Parthenay, which is not better fortified than Clisson, be more unassailable than Saumur, where everything appeared to be against us ?" "We were all together then, and now we are scattered.

I'll tell you what, Henri," he continued, after walking on silent for a few steps.
"I'll tell you what we must do: we must leave this district altogether; we must leave it to be ravaged by fire and sword; we must leave it to Westerman, to wreak his vengeance on it, and go to Chatillon, taking with us every armed man that will follow us.

We cannot stand an invasion here in the south." "Heavens, Charles! what do you mean?
Will you not stay to protect the poor wretches who are so ready to fight for us ?" "We can protect no one by staying here.

We cannot hope to contend single-handed with such an army as that which was but just now advancing to Bressuire.

We can have given them a check, but you know we cannot repeat the effort of this evening.