They had heard, while engaged in the thick of the fighting, of the death of Monsieur Martin.

He had never recovered from the effects of his imprisonment at Nantes, and instead of gaining strength he had become weaker and weaker.

The terrible uncertainty of the position, the news that constantly arrived of desperate battles, and the conviction that in the end the Vendeans would be crushed, told heavily upon him.

He took to his bed, and sank gradually.
"I am not sorry, my child," he said to Patsey, the day before he died, "that I am going to leave you.

I was wrong in not taking Jean's advice, and sailing for England with my wife and daughter.
However, it is useless to think of that, now.
"I can see terrible times in store for all here.