For The Admiral Part 25

The landlord was in bed, but he came down quickly, and, having shown us into his best room, proceeded to draw the wine which Felix ordered.

"You are in bed early," I remarked on his return. "Have you no guests in the house?"

"None, monsieur."

"We expected to meet with some of the king's troops here: have they pa.s.sed through already?"

"There have been no soldiers in the village, monsieur."

"But surely they are close at hand!"

"If monsieur means Marshal Cosse's army, it is ten miles off. At least Philippe said so when he came home this evening."

"Who is Philippe?"

"He lives in the village, monsieur; he could guide you to the soldiers.

Shall I fetch him?"

"Yes," I replied, "and waste no time. Jacques," and I glanced at my servant meaningly, "you might go with the worthy host."

They returned in less than half an hour, bringing with them a short, thin man, spare in build, but tough and wiry. His eyes were sharp and bright, and his face was shrewd and full of intelligence.

"Are you a good Catholic, Philippe?" I asked.

His glance pa.s.sed from me to Felix and back again so swiftly that he might never have taken his gaze from my face. Then he said with the most natural hesitation in the world, and as if fully expecting to suffer for his confession, "I hope monsieur will not be offended, but I belong to the Religion."

"Faith, Philippe," I said, "I guessed you were shrewd; you are the very fellow for our purpose. Since you belong to the Religion"--the rascal's lips twitched ever so slightly--"you will have no scruple in helping us.

We are of the Religion, too."

"Is it possible, monsieur?" he said, with a start of well-feigned surprise.

"Now listen to me," I continued; "you know where the marshal's army is.

Don't contradict; it will be useless."

"I am attending, monsieur."

"We want to see this army, but we do not wish to introduce ourselves to the soldiers. Now a sharp guide, thoroughly acquainted with the district, can easily lead us to a place from which we can learn all we want to know. Is not that a good scheme?"

"It has one serious drawback, monsieur."

"Speak on; we are listening."

"If the guide should be caught by the king's troops, he would be hanged."

"That is awkward, certainly. On the other hand, if he refuses to go he will die by the sword. You are a sensible man, Philippe, and will see the force of my remarks. Now, which is it to be? Will you earn a few crowns by taking the risk, or will you lose your life at once?"

"Truly, monsieur," said he, after a pause, "you place me in an unpleasant position; but since there is no way out of it, I will do as you wish."

"A sensible answer, and there is but one thing more to add. If you are thinking to play us false, we count three swords and six loaded pistols, and you cannot reasonably expect to escape them all."

"Monsieur's kindness in pointing out these things is truly touching!"

exclaimed the rascal with a broad grin.

"My friend is noted for such kindness!" laughed Felix. "And now let us get into the saddle. Is there a spare horse in the stables, landlord?"

"Yes, monsieur," replied our host, whose limbs were shaking through fright.

"Then we shall use it for Philippe. Don't be afraid; we will pay you for the hire."

"Monsieur is very good."

"And a word in your ear, landlord. On our return, do not let us find that your tongue has been wagging!"

We rode out from the inn yard, Jacques and Philippe in front, Felix and I following.

"He is a clever rascal," remarked Felix in a low voice; "he is no Huguenot."

"If he is," I replied laughing quietly, "'twas a quick conversion. He was certainly a good Catholic until he had taken note of our dress. But the fellow will guide us aright, for his own sake. He is quick enough to calculate the chances."

Occasionally one or other of us cantered forward and rode a short distance by his side, while Jacques watched him constantly with the eyes of a hawk. But the fellow who was keen enough to understand that treachery would result in his own death, whatever else happened, led us very carefully across country and right away from the beaten tracks until about three o'clock in the morning, when he came to a halt on the top of a wooded hill.

"Very softly!" he whispered, "we are in the rear of the army, but there may be some sentries at hand. When day breaks we shall see the camp almost at our feet."

I bade Jacques lead the animals deeper into the wood, lest they should attract attention; then Felix and I lay down with the guide between us.

"So far, Philippe, you have served us well," whispered my comrade. "You will pocket those crowns yet!"

"Hush, monsieur; a single sound may cost us our lives."

This was true, so we lay silent, watching for the breaking of dawn.

Little by little the night haze cleared away; the light broke through the clouds; the sun rose, lighting up first the distant hills, and presently revealing the secret of the plain beneath. The bugles sounded; men came from their tents, rubbing their eyes still burdened with sleep, and before long all the camp was astir.

"Guns!" said Felix; "how many do you make, Edmond?"

"Six," I replied, after a careful survey.

"I can count six, too," he said. "According to our spies the marshal had no guns."

I nudged our guide, saying, "What is the number of the troops down there?"

"Fifteen thousand infantry, and six thousand hors.e.m.e.n, monsieur," he answered promptly.

"It may be so," I said, "but we shall be better able to judge when they are ready to march."

For two hours we lay flat on the ground, with our eyes fixed on the camp, never changing our position, and speaking hardly a word. We watched the cavalry feed and groom the animals, and saw the troops sit down to breakfast. Then a body of hors.e.m.e.n, about fifty or sixty in number, rode out from the camp in the direction of Arnay-le-Duc.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "For two hours we lay flat on the ground, with our eyes fixed on the camp."]