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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from The Chouans by Honore de Balzac: not negotiate with the First Consul, as I am afraid they will" (here
he wrung the hand of the Vendean chief) "we shall be within reach of
Paris in a fortnight."
"But the Republic is sending sixty thousand men and General Brune
against us."
"Sixty thousand men! indeed!" cried the marquis, with a scoffing
laugh. "And how will Bonaparte carry on the Italian campaign? As for
General Brune, he is not coming. The First Consul has sent him against
the English in Holland, and General Hedouville, /the friend of our
friend Barras/, takes his place here. Do you understand?"
As Monsieur de Fontaine heard these words he gave Montauran a look of
The Chouans | 
