ith the most polite condescension, "Good evening ladies," said he
kindly, "I rejoice to see you all well; Captain, Mr. Counsellor, your
servant; ah, my young friend," turning to Edmond, "you are here very
often; but where is our amiable hostess?"

"She too is not far," said Christine, coming forward.

"And well?" asked the Marshal; "certainly this charming serenity, this
grace, these divine talents, how could it be otherwise?--I hope ladies
that you will not disturb yourselves; let us all sit down and play, or
converse as best it may seem."

He laid aside his sword and plumed hat, and with obliging promptitude
placed an armchair near the fire-place for the lady Christine; he took
a footstool and sat on it at her feet, Edmond leaned over the back of
her chair and the rest of the company resumed their play. "At your
feet, loveliest of women," began the Marshal, "must I find again the
peace and tranquillity, which deserted me to-day: yes, this day is one
of the most unfortunate of my life!" "Have the Camisards penetrated
into Nismes?" asked Christine.

"They will never do that," replied the Marshal smiling, "means have
been taken to prevent it; these miserable men will soon have sung their
last song. Yesterday they were as good as annihilated, and we should
have given them the rout here near Nages, if treachery and wickedness
had not, as usual, rendered our best efforts abortive."

"Certainly," said Edmond, "if the people were unanimous in their
exertions to extirpate them, the best part would have been achieved."

"Young man," rejoined the Marshal, "I will annihilate them even without
the assistance of the people, for these associations composed of
citizens, and peasants to oppose them, are more injurious than useful,
these men understand neither service nor war, they rather call forth
the vigour and insolence of the rebels, the soldier alone can put them
down. How unfortunate has it turned out with the good hermit of
Saumiere! he is said to have been completely defeated, and at last
drowned."

Edmond related what he knew of the affair, and the Marshal said
smilingly; "I can easily imagine the anxiety of the old boy; but to
continue: an old Camisard, a squinting, bald-headed man passed over to
us, he was well acquainted with all the secret passes of the mountains;
I think his name is Favart; he promised to deliver into our hands the
leader Cavalier, and his principal troop, together with the infamous
Catinat; we f