s between you and them, all the
Jesuits in the world will not prevent your quarrelling: fight it out,
gentlemen. St. George for England, I say--and you know who says so,
wherever he may be."

I think Holt loved to make a parade of mystery, as it were, and would
appear and disappear at our quarters as suddenly as he used to return and
vanish in the old days at Castlewood. He had passes between both armies,
and seemed to know (but with that inaccuracy which belonged to the good
father's omniscience) equally well what passed in the French camp and in
ours. One day he would give Esmond news of a great _feste_ that took place
in the French quarters, of a supper of Monsieur de Rohan's, where there
was play and violins, and then dancing and masques: the king drove thither
in Marshal Villar's own guinguette. Another day he had the news of his
Majesty's ague, the king had not had a fit these ten days, and might be
said to be well. Captain Holtz made a visit to England during this time,
so eager was he about negotiating prisoners; and 'twas on returning from
this voyage that he began to open himself more to Esmond, and to make him,
as occasion served, at their various meetings, several of those
confidences which are here set down all together.

The reason of his increased confidence was this: upon going to London, the
old director of Esmond's aunt, the dowager, paid her ladyship a visit at
Chelsey, and there learnt from her that Captain Esmond was acquainted with
the secret of his family, and was determined never to divulge it. The
knowledge of this fact raised Esmond in his old tutor's eyes, so Holt was
pleased to say, and he admired Harry very much for his abnegation.

"The family at Castlewood have done far more for me than my own ever did,"
Esmond said. "I would give my life for them. Why should I grudge the only
benefit that 'tis in my power to confer on them?" The good father's eyes
filled with tears at this speech, which to the other seemed very simple:
he embraced Esmond, and broke out into many admiring expressions; he said
he was a _noble coeur_, that he was proud of him, and fond of him as his
pupil and friend--regretted more than ever that he had lost him, and been
forced to leave him in those early times, when he might have had an
influence over him, have brought him into that only true Church to which
the father belonged, and enlisted him in the noblest army in which a man
ever engaged--meaning his own Society of J