As he spoke he glanced significantly at three or four gentlemen to whom he was an entire stranger.
Thereupon ensued an interchange of civilities in the courtly manner characteristic of the time. Before half an hour had passed Richon was on the friendliest terms with all the young officers, and might have asked any one of them for his sword or his purse. His sponsors were his well-known gallantry, his spotless reputation, and the noble spirit written in his eyes.
"Pardieu! messieurs," said the governor of Braunes, "there's no denying that, although he's a churchman, Monsieur de Mazarin has a keen eye for fighting-men, and has been managing matters well in that direction for some time. He scents war, and selects for governors, Canolles here, and Richon at Vayres."
"Is there to be fighting?" inquired Richon, carelessly.
"Is there to be fighting!" rejoined a young man fresh from the court. "You ask if there is to be fighting, Monsieur Richon?"
"Yes."
"Well! I ask you what condition your bastions are in?"
"They are almost new, monsieur; for in the three days I have been at the fort I have done more repairing and renovating than had been done in three years."
"Good! it won't be long before they will be tested," rejoined the young man.
"So much the better," said Richon. "What do fighting-men long for? War."
"The king can sleep soundly now," said Canolles, "for he holds the Bordelais in check by means of the two rivers."
"The person who put me where I am can count upon my devotion," said Richon.
"How long do you say you have been at Vayres, monsieur?"
"Three days. How long have you been at Saint-Georges, Canolles?"
"A week. Did you have a reception like mine, Richon? Mine was magnificent, and even yet I haven't thanked these gentlemen sufficiently. There were bells ringing and drums beating, and acclamations. Cannon were the only thing missing, but I have been promised some within a few days, and that consoles me."
"My reception, my dear Canolles, was as modest as yours was splendid. I was ordered to introduce a hundred men into the place, a hundred men of the Turenne regiment, and I was in a quandary how I was to do it, when my commission, signed by Monsieur d'Épernon, arrived at Saint-Pierre, where I then was. I set out at once, handed my commission to the lieutenant, and took possession of the place without drum or trumpet. At present I am there."
Canolles, who smiled at the beginning, was conscious of an indefinable presentiment of evil from the tone in which these last words were uttered.
"And you are settled there?" he asked Richon.
"I am putting things in order," Richon replied tranquilly.
"How many men have you?"
"In the first place, the hundred men of the Turenne regiment, old soldiers of Rocroy, who can be depended upon; also a company I am forming in the town; as fast as recruits come in, I take them in hand, tradesmen, workingmen, youths, about two hundred in all; lastly, I am expecting a re-enforcement of a hundred or a hundred and fifty men, levied by an officer of the province."
"Captain Ramblay?" inquired one of the guests.
"No, Captain Cauvignac."
"I don't know him," said several voices.
"I do," said Canolles.
"Is he a stanch royalist?"
"I should not dare to say. I have every reason to think, however, that Captain Cauvignac is a creature of Monsieur le Duc d'Épernon and very devoted to him."
"That answers the question; any man who is devoted to the duke is devoted to his Majesty."
"He's a sort of scout sent on ahead to beat up the country for the king," said the old officer, who was making up for the time lost in waiting. "I have heard of him in that connection."
"Is his Majesty on his way hither?" asked Richon, with his customary tranquil manner.
"He should be at least as far as Blois," replied the young man just from the court.
"Are you sure of it?"
"Quite sure. His army will be commanded by Maréchal de la Meilleraie, who is to effect a junction in this neighborhood with Monsieur le Duc d'Épernon."
"At Saint-Georges, perhaps?"
"Rather at Vayres," said Richon. "Monsieur de la Meilleraie comes from Bretagne, and Vayres is on his road."
"The man who happens to be where the two armies come together will have to look well to his bastions," said the governor of Braunes. "Monsieur de la Meilleraie has thirty guns, and Monsieur d'Épernon twenty-five."
"They will make a fine show," said Canolles; "unfortunately, we shall not see it."
"True," said Richon, "unless some one of us declares for the princes."
"But Canolles is sure to come in for a volley from somebody. If he declares for the princes he'll have Monsieur de la Meilleraie and Monsieur d'Épernon about his ears; if he remains true to his Majesty he'll taste the fire of the Bordelais."
"Oh! as to the latter," said Canolles, "I don't consider them very terrible, and I confess that I am a little ashamed to have no worthier antagonist. Unfortunately, I am for his Majesty body and soul, and I must be content with a tradesmen's war."
"They'll give you that, never fear," said Richon.
"Have you any basis for conjecture on that subject?" queried Canolles.
"I have something better than that," said Richon. "I have certain knowledge. The council of citizens has decided to take Île Saint-Georges first of all."
"Good," said Canolles, "let them come; I am ready for them."
The conversation had reached this stage and the dessert had just been served, when they heard drums beating at the entrance of the fortress.
"What does that mean?" said Canolles.
"Pardieu!" exclaimed the young officer who had brought the news from court, "it would be curious if they should attack you at this moment; an assault and escalade would be a delightful after-dinner diversion!"
"Deuce take me! it looks very much like it," said the old officer; "these wretched cads never fail to disturb you at your meals. I was at the outposts at Charenton at the time of the war in Paris, and we could never breakfast or dine in peace."
Canolles rang; the orderly on duty in the antechamber entered.
"What is going on?" Canolles asked.
"I don't know yet, Monsieur le Gouverneur; some messenger from the king or from the city, no doubt."
"Inquire, and let me know."
The soldier hastened from the room.
"Let us return to the table, messieurs," said Canolles to his guests, most of whom had left their seats. "It will be time enough to leave the table when we hear the cannon."
All the guests resumed their seats with smiling faces. Richon alone, over whose features a cloud had passed, still seemed restless, and kept his eyes fixed upon the door, awaiting the soldier's return. But an officer with drawn sword appeared in his stead.
"Monsieur le Gouverneur," said he, "a flag of truce."
"A flag of truce from whom?"
"From the princes."
"Coming from where?"
"From Bordeaux."
"From Bordeaux!" all the guests save Richon repeated in chorus.
"Oho! so war is really declared, is it," said the old officer, "that they send flags of truce?"
Canolles reflected a moment, and during that moment his features assumed as grave an expression as the circumstances demanded.
"Messieurs,"