I shall add, to my order respecting your fight of yesterday, a statement of what has taken place tonight; and I shall beg that all officers read it aloud to the parties that follow them." "I agree most cordially with the general's words," Monsieur Bonchamp said.

"Your defence yesterday would have been a credit to any military man, and this discovery has saved us from ruin tomorrow, or rather today.

I will venture to say that not one man in five hundred would have taken the trouble to go out of his way to ascertain whether the words of a drunken man rested on any foundation." There was, then, a short conversation as to the approaching fight.
The number of men who had arrived was much smaller than had been anticipated, owing to the fact that the simultaneous invasion, at so many points, had the effect of retaining the peasants of the various localities for the defence of their own homes.

Leigh learned that a mounted messenger had been despatched, shortly before he brought the prisoner down, to beg Monsieur d'Elbee to bring the force he commanded, at Chollet, with all speed to aid in the defence of Chemille; for if that town fell, he would be exposed to the attack of the united forces of Generals Berruyer and Leigonyer.
"Now, gentlemen, I think we had better get a few hours' sleep," Cathelineau said.

"They will not be here very early, probably not until noon; for they may wait for a time before starting, in hopes of being joined either by Leigonyer or one of the other columns, and it is not likely that any news of the sharp reverse that Leigonyer has met with has reached them." It was now two o'clock in the morning, and Leigh slept heavily, till roused at eight.
"You should have called me before, Andre," he said reproachfully, when he learnt how late it was.
"I thought it was better that you should have a good sleep, captain.