for a month or two months--on my vow,
I like it not for one hour.

Note: At leisure read of the family history of the de Mauprats and
the d'Avranches.

N.: No more secret marriages nor special licenses--most uncanonical
privileges!

N.: For ease of conscience write to His Grace at Lambeth upon the
point.

Detricand sprang to his feet. So this was the truth about Philip
d'Avranche, about Guida, alas!

He paced the tent, his brain in a whirl. Stopping at last, he took
from his pocket the letter received that afternoon from General
Grandjon-Larisse, and read it through again hurriedly. It proposed a
truce, and a meeting with himself at a village near, for conference upon
the surrender of Detricand's small army.

"A bitter end to all our fighting," said Detricand aloud at last. "But
he is right. It is now a mere waste of life. I know my course.... Even
to-night," he added, "it shall be to-night."

Two hours later Detricand, Prince of Vaufontaine, was closeted with
General Grandjon-Larisse at a village half-way between the Republican
army and the broken bands of the Vendee.

As lads Detricand and Grandjon-Larisse had known each other well. But
since the war began Grandjon-Larisse had gone one way, and he had gone
the other, bitter enemies in principle but friendly enough at heart.

They had not seen each other since the year before Rullecour's invasion
of Jersey.

"I had hoped to see you by sunset, monseigneur," said Grandjon-Larisse
after they had exchanged greetings.

"It is through a melancholy chance you see me at all," replied Detricand
heavily.

"To what piteous accident am I indebted?" Grandjon-Larisse replied in
an acid tone, for war had given his temper an edge. "Were not my reasons
for surrender sound? I eschewed eloquence--I gave you facts."

Detricand shook his head, but did not reply at once. His brow was
clouded.

"Let me speak fully and bluntly now," Grandjon-Larisse went on. "You
will not shrink from plain truths, I know. We were friends ere you went
adventuring with Rullecour. We are soldiers too; and you will understand
I meant no bragging in my letter."

He raised his brows inquiringly, and Detricand inclined his head in
assent.

Without more ado, Grandjon-Larisse laid a map on the table. "This will
help us," he said briefly, then added: "Look you, Prince, when war began
the game was all with you. At Thouars here"--his words followed
his finger--"at Fontenay, at