Guards of France.
Haramont was in France.
Haramont had a National Guard.
Lafayette then was Commander of the National Guard of Haramont.
He could not, therefore, consent that they should be destitute of arms while the rest of the militia of France was armed or about to be so.
To reach Lafayette he had to appeal to Gilbert, and Gilbert he would reach through Billot.
Pitou had then to write to Billot.
As Billot could not read, Gilbert would have to read the letter for him, and in this way Gilbert would learn the facts, thus saving the necessity of at least one letter.
His resolution being taken, Pitou waited till night, when he returned secretly to Haramont and took up the pen.
But notwithstanding the precautions he had taken that his return should be unobserved, he was seen by Claude Tellier and Désiré Maniquet.
They withdrew in silence, and each with a finger on his lips, as a token of silence.
Pitou now had entered upon the rôle of a practical politician.
The following is a copy of the letter which produced such an effect on Tellier and Maniquet:—
DEAR AND HONORABLE MONSIEUR BILLOT,—The Revolutionary cause in our part of the country every day gains
The people of Haramont has enrolled itself in the active National Guard.
It is, however, unarmed.
Arms may be procured. Certain persons have large quantities, the possession of which would prevent the expenditure of public money.
If General de Lafayette be pleased to order these to be seized and distributed, I will myself guarantee that thirty muskets will be placed in the arsenals of Haramont.
It is the only way to oppose the anti-Revolutionary action of the aristocrats and of the enemies of the nation.
Your fellow-citizen and servant,
ANGE PITOU.
When this was done, he remembered that he had forgotten to write to the farmer of his wife and family.
He had treated him too much as a Brutus; but if he were to give Billot the details about Catherine, he would have either to lie or to rend the father’s heart; it would be also to reopen his own love-wounds.
Stifling a sigh, he added the following postscript:—
“P.S.—Madame Billot, Mademoiselle Catherine, and all are well, and send their love to Monsieur Billot.”
He thus compromised neither himself nor any one.
He sent the letter, and the answer soon came.
Two days afterwards, a mounted express reached Haramont and asked for Monsieur Ange Pitou.
All the members of the militia were on the qui vive.
The horse was white with foam, and the rider wore the uniform of the Parisian National Guard.
From the excitement he produced all may fancy how great was Pitou’s agitation.
He approached, and not without trembling received the package which the officer gave him.
It was the reply of Billot, written by Gilbert.
He advised Pitou to be both moderate and patriotic.
He enclosed an order of Lafayette, countersigned by the Minister of War, for the National Guard of Haramont to arm itself.
The order was thus written:—
“The possessors of muskets and sabres, in a greater number than one, will be required to place them in the hands of the commanders of the National Guards of the commune.
“The present order extends to all the province.”
Pitou thanked the officer and saw him at once set out.
Pitou had reached the acme of glory, having received a message directly from Lafayette and the ministry.
This message suited his ideas exactly.
To describe the effect of the messenger and official document on Pitou’s followers would be impossible, and we will not therefore attempt to do so. The sight, however, of the excited countenances of all the people, the great respect exhibited to him, would have made the most sceptical believe that henceforward our hero was going to be a most important personage.
All the electors requested to see and touch the ministerial seal,—a favor Pitou kindly granted.
When none but the initiated remained, Pitou said:
“Citizens, my plans have succeeded as I had foreseen.
I wrote to General de Lafayette that you wished to form a National Guard and had selected me as commander.
“Read the directions of this letter.”