The Chouans examined them attentively as they came down the carriage steps; not finding the man they wanted, they said to each traveller, "Pass on." One man alone remained in the coach.

A Chouan thrust a torch in the vehicle, and by its light they could see he was a priest.
"Minister of the Lord," said Sabre-tout, "why did you not descend with the others?
Did you not hear me say we were Christians and royalists ?" The priest did not move; but his teeth chattered.
"Why this terror ?" continued Sabre-tout.

"Does not your cloth plead for you?
The man who wears a cassock can have done nothing against royalty or religion." The priest crouched back, murmuring: "Mercy! mercy!" "Why mercy ?" demanded Sabre-tout, "do you feel that you are guilty, wretch ?" "Oh! oh!" exclaimed Roland, "is that how you royalists and Christians speak to a man of God!" "That man," said Cadoudal, "is not a man of God, but a man of the devil." "Who is he, then ?" "Both an atheist and a regicide; he denied his God and voted for the death of the king.

That is the Conventional Audrein." Roland shuddered.

"What will they do ?" he asked.
"He gave death, he will receive death," answered Cadoudal.
During this time the Chouans had pulled Audrein out of the diligence.
"Ha! is it you, bishop of Vannes ?" cried Sabre-tout.
"Mercy!" begged the bishop.
"We were informed of your arrival, and were waiting for you." "Mercy!" repeated the bishop for the third time.
"Have you your pontifical robes with you ?" "Yes, my friends, I have." "Then dress yourself as a prelate; it is long since we have seen one." A trunk marked with the prelate's name was taken from the diligence and opened.