"Just returned, I warrant,
from visiting his troopers; he looks after them well," and, glancing
ahead, I observed my old comrade about to enter the village inn.

"Raoul!" I shouted, "Raoul!" and at the sound he turned back to meet us.

"I told you that De Lalande would come to no harm!" exclaimed Humphreys
with a laugh.

"He was as anxious as I, Albert," said Raoul. "We discovered that you
had escorted the ladies to Aunay, but after that no one could guess
what had become of you. Naturally, we expected to find you with the
army."

"Instead of which I was at Bruhl with the Cardinal. I concluded
Humphreys would guess what the secret service was."

"Come to my room," said Raoul; "we must hear your story."

As there could be no harm in mentioning the matter now, I related what
had passed, and they were much amused by Pillot's trick at Verdu.

"But you must keep out of Courcy's way for a time," said Raoul. "I
know him well, and he is a tremendous fire-eater. I expect he has
joined Conde in the field by now."

"Where is D'Arcy?"

"At the Luxembourg, and thoroughly miserable. He hates the idea of
supporting Conde against the King, but imagines he ought not to desert
the Duke of Orleans. Most of his comrades came with me, but he would
not. 'I am for Orleans,' he said, 'no matter whom he is against.' Of
course, he is right in a way."

"Not at all," declared Humphreys. "Conde is a rebel, and has assisted
the enemies of his own country. Every man should regard him as a
traitor."

"Well," said Raoul frankly, "it was his trafficking with the Spaniards
that decided me to fight against him. I am for France, whoever rules
the country."

"I am for the King," said Humphreys. "My father taught me to say, 'For
God and the King!' as soon as I could talk. That was my earliest
lesson."

"And yet your people cut off their king's head!"

"A set of sour knaves," he cried, "but the finest fighting men in the
world! You should have seen them at Naseby with their leader,
Cromwell! Old Noll we call him; he rules the country now, while Prince
Charles, the rightful king, is here in exile."

"When our own troubles are settled we will set your prince on his
throne," laughed Raoul. "Mazarin will provide him with an army, and
Albert and I will obtain commissions in it. Then we shall see your
country for ourselves."

"Ah," exclaimed Humphreys, "you do not understand the English any more
than I understand your Paris