Father Jerome was there, and another priest who had come with M.Bonchamps.
There were a couple of old royalist noblemen, not sufficiently active to take a part in the actual fighting, but sufficiently zealous in the cause to leave their homes for the purpose of giving the young commanders the benefit of their experience.

Foret also, Cathelineau's friend, was present, and Adolphe Denot: indeed many others, from time to time, crowded into the room, for the door was not well kept, nor were the councils of the generals in any way a secret.

Jacques Chapeau, as a matter of course, managed to make his way into the room, and took upon himself the duties of doorkeeper.
The Mayor's arm-chair stood at the head of the table, as the leaders dropped into the room one after another, but no one appeared willing to occupy it.

Hitherto there had been no chief among the Vendeans; this was the first meeting which had been held with anything approaching to the solemnity of a general assembly, and it occurred to each of them that whoever should then seat himself in the Mayor's chair, would be assuming that he was the chief leader of the revolt.
"Come, M.de Lescure," said Stofflet, "we have much to do, and but little time; let us make the most of it: do you take the President's seat.

Gentlemen, I am sure we could have no better President than M.de Lescure ?" They all agreed, with the exception of the chosen leader.