ichly dressed man, towards
whom Roland politely advanced, and both then hastened to a distance,
where they walked up and down on the skirt of the wood engaged in
earnest conversation.

"Canst thou hear what they say?" asked Edmond of the aged Eustace.

"No, brother," replied the latter, "how is that possible, since they
are so far from us, that I can scarcely distinguish them?"

But Edmond, when he turned his thoughts on Roland, could, to his great
surprise, understand all clearly and distinctly, so that not one word
of the conversation escaped him.

"I thank you sir," said Roland, "these sums come just in right time,
and will help to supply the unfortunate soldiers with those necessaries
that they have been so long compelled to forego." "And you remain
obstinate," demanded the former, "and will not accept anything for
yourself and the other leaders?"

"Do not mention that," said Roland, "you ought to know us at last. We
have not undertaken this holy war for robbery and gain: we are all
willing to remain poor. But the succours, where do they tarry? we do
what we can with short means, but a great calamity may annihilate us at
once, and then all assistance from without will come too late, even
now, a small one would be very acceptable. But already I forbode the
future, they will let us languish and perish, and then lament that they
did not lend us assistance sooner. It is ever thus, when one trusts to
foreign aid."

"Therefore a sum: could--in all cases"--observed the stranger.

"No," cried Roland with great vehemence; "Oh sir, do you think then
that I anticipate a happy result? I will live and die in this struggle,
end as it may. When I had the courage to take up the sword, I at the
same time threw away the scabbard too. I have devoted myself to ruin.
My name may be stained, the better part of mankind shall feel that I
was not debased, that, notwithstanding all, I was a good subject."

"A good subject?" said the stranger inquiringly, "I understand the
strangeness of these words. You think that I, a rebel, an outlaw, who
even accepts sums of money from foreign lands, may be purchased at a
cheap rate by the enemies of my king, and that I should maliciously
rejoice at every calamity that befell my sovereign. But it is not thus,
no Frenchman sinks so low. Let the king give us liberty of conscience,
and lame, starved, and bleeding at every pore, we will still fight for
him against England and Germany. And never would