exclaimed the princess; "you promised much the same thing once before and failed."
"I promised your Highness to make an attempt to win over Monsieur de Canolles. That attempt failed because I found Monsieur de Canolles inflexible."
"Do you expect to find him more easy to approach after his triumph?"
"No; for that reason I did not say this time that I would turn over the governor to you, but the place itself."
"How so?"
"By admitting your soldiers into the very heart of the fortress."
"Are you a fairy, madame, that you undertake such a task?" La Rochefoucauld asked her.
"No, monsieur, I am a landowner," said the viscountess.
"Madame is pleased to jest," retorted the duke.
"Not at all, not at all," said Lenet. "I can imagine a world of meaning in the three words just uttered by Madame de Cambes."
"Then that is all I require," said the viscountess; "Monsieur Lenet's approval means everything to me. I say again that Saint-Georges is as good as taken, if I may be allowed to say four words in private to Monsieur Lenet."
"Madame," chimed in Madame de Tourville, "I too can take Saint-Georges, if I can have my way."
"Let Madame de Tourville first set forth her plan so that we can all hear," said Lenet, checking the effort Madame de Cambes was making to lead him into a corner; "then you shall whisper yours to me."
"Say on, madame," said the princess.
"I would start at night with twenty boats carrying two hundred musketeers; another party, equal in number, would creep along the right bank; four or five hundred more would ascend the left bank; meanwhile ten or twelve hundred Bordelais – "
"Bear in mind, madame," interposed La Rochefoucauld, "that you already have ten or twelve hundred men engaged."
"I will take Saint-Georges with a single company," said Claire; "give me Navailles, and I will answer for the result."
"'Tis worth considering," said the princess, while Monsieur de La Rochefoucauld, with his most contemptuous smile, gazed pityingly at these women who presumed to discuss military questions which embarrassed the boldest and most enterprising men.
"I will listen to you now, madame," said Lenet. "Come this way."
He led Claire to a window recess, where she whispered her secret in his ear.
Lenet emitted a joyful exclamation.
"Indeed, madame," said he, turning to the princess, "if you will give Madame de Cambes carte blanche, Saint-Georges is ours."
"When?" the princess demanded.
"When you please."
"Madame is a great captain!" sneered La Rochefoucauld.
"You may judge for yourself, Monsieur le Duc," said Lenet, "when you enter Saint-Georges in triumph, without firing a single shot."
"When that time comes I will approve."
"If it's as certain as you say," said the princess, "let everything be prepared for to-morrow."
"On such day and at such hour as your Highness pleases," said Claire. "I will await your commands in my apartment."
With that she bowed and withdrew; the princess, who had passed in an instant from wrath to hope, did the same, followed by Madame de Tourville. Espagnet, having renewed his protestations, took his departure, and the duke was left alone with Lenet.
VII
"My dear Monsieur Lenet," said the duke, "as the women seem to have taken charge of the war, I think it would be a good plan for the men to do a little intriguing. I have heard of a certain Captain Cauvignac, whom you commissioned to raise a company, and who is represented to me as an exceedingly clever sort of fellow. I sent for him; is there any way for me to see him?"
"He is waiting, monseigneur," said Lenet.
"Let him come in, then."
Lenet pulled a bell-cord, and a servant appeared.
"Send Captain Cauvignac hither," said Lenet.
An instant after, our old acquaintance appeared in the doorway; but, prudent as always, there he halted.
"Come hither, captain," said the duke; "I am Monsieur le Duc de La Rochefoucauld."
"I know you perfectly well, monseigneur," said Cauvignac.
"Ah! so much the better, then. You received a commission to raise a company?"
"It is raised."
"How many men have you at your disposal?"
"A hundred and fifty."
"Well armed and equipped?"
"Well armed, poorly equipped. I looked out for the weapons first of all, as the most essential thing. As to their equipment, as I am a very disinterested youth, and as I am moved principally by my affection for Messieurs les Princes, I came rather short of money, Monsieur Lenet having given me but ten thousand livres."
"You have enrolled a hundred and fifty men with ten thousand livres?"
"Yes, monseigneur."
"That's a marvellous achievement."
"I have methods known to myself alone, monseigneur, to which I have resorted."
"Where are your men?"
"They are here; you will see a fine company, monseigneur, especially in respect to their morals, – all men of rank; not a single nobody among them."
Monsieur de La Rochefoucauld walked to the window, and saw in the street a hundred and fifty individuals of all ages, sizes, and conditions, drawn up in two lines, and kept in place by Ferguzon, Barrabas, Carrotel, and their two colleagues, arrayed in their most magnificent attire. The rank and file resembled a party of bandits much more nearly than a company of soldiers.
As Cauvignac had said, they were very much out at elbows, but remarkably well armed.
"Have you received any orders concerning the place where your men are to be stationed?" the duke inquired.
"I have been ordered to lead them to Vayres, and I am simply awaiting the ratification of that order by Monsieur le Duc to turn over my company to Monsieur Richon, who is expecting its arrival."
"But do not you remain at Vayres with them?"
"My principles, monseigneur, forbid my ever doing such a foolish thing as to shut myself up within four walls, when I am at liberty to go where I please. I was born to lead the life of the patriarchs."
"Very good; go where you choose; but despatch your men to Vayres as soon as possible."
"Then they are really to form part of the garrison of that place?"
"Yes."
"Under
