De Lescure, therefore, determined to go at once to Durbelliere; and Adolphe Denot, who was with him, accompanied him.
They found Henri in the midst of his preparations, weighing out gunpowder with the assistance of the priest and the two girls.

There was a large quarry on the Marquis' estate, and a considerable supply of gunpowder for blasting had been lately brought to Durbelliere from Nantes, as it could not be purchased in the neighbouring towns.

As the priest remarked, blasting powder was not the best, but it was good enough to treat republicans with--at any rate they could get no better, and it was lucky that they chanced to have that.
Charles de Lescure shuddered as he saw the dangerous employment on which his sister was engaged; but Henri's sister was doing the same thing, and he knew that dangerous times for all of them were coming.
Adolphe was disgusted that Agatha's white hands should be employed in so vile a service, but he thought little of the danger to which she was exposed.
"You are well employed, ladies," said de Lescure, "but not an hour too soon.

I am rejoiced to see you so well supplied, Henri; this is indeed a Godsend.

Father Jerome, is this strictly canonical; gunpowder I fear is altogether a temporal affair." "But rebellion and hell-fire are synonymous," said the priest, "and loyalty is the road to Paradise.