There was there a certain smith, named Michael Stein, who had two stalwart sons, whom Jacques burnt to enrol in his loyal band of warriors; this smith had also one daughter, Annot Stein, who, in the eyes of Jacques Chapeau, combined every female charm; she was young and rosy; she had soft hair and bright eyes; she could dance all night, and was known to possess in her on right some mysterious little fortune, left to her by nobody knew what grandfather or grandmother, and amounting, so said report, to the comfortable sum of five hundred francs.

When Chapeau had risen to some high military position, a field-marshal's baton, or the gold-laced cap of a serjeant-major, with whom could he share his honours better than with his dear little friend, Annot Stein?
Jacques wanted her advice upon this subject, and he therefore rejoiced greatly that the path of duty was leading him this morning to Echanbroignes.
"We may be sure, Father Jerome," said Henri, "of those men from St.
Michael ?" "Of every man.

You will find there will not be a defaulter." "God send it; one traitor makes many, as sheep follow each other through a hedge row." "Do not fear them, my son.

Father Francois has the list of them; he will have every man collected by daylight on the 7th, and he will come on with them himself as far as the cross-roads; they will there meet my own children from St.Laud." "There were to be one hundred and seventy-five from St.Michael." "Yes; and one hundred and forty from St.Laud; and thirty will have joined us from Petit Ange de Poitou before we reach the turn from St.
Michael." "And have you positively determined you will start with them from St.
Laud's yourself, Father Jerome." "With God's will, my son, I most assuredly shall do so; and from that to the walls of Saumur, they shall see before them my tattered Cure's frock, and the blessed symbol of their hope.

I will carry the cross before them from the porch of the little church which shall once more be my own, till I plant it on the citadel of Saumur beside the standard of the King." "Oh! if we had a few more Father Jeromes!" said Henri.
"There might perhaps be more soldiers in La Vendee than at present; but perhaps also there would be fewer Christians," said the priest.