red."

"Conde dead!" cried one, "no, no; there must be some strange mistake!"

"I fear not, monsieur!" and, while they listened in breathless silence,
I repeated the story which the wounded trooper had brought from the
battle-field.

"Anjou shall have cause to rue this day!" said one, speaking with deadly
earnestness. "If I meet him on foot or in the saddle, in victory or in
defeat, I will not leave the ground till I have plunged my sword into
his heart!"

"But Anjou was not the murderer!"

"An officer of his bodyguard, you said. Do you think he acted against
his master's wishes? Pshaw! I tell you, Monseigneur is as much the
murderer as if his own fingers had pulled the trigger!" and the murmur
of applause from all who heard showed how fully they agreed with him.

When they left the tent, to retail the circumstances of the Prince's
death, I was glad to lie down. I was still anxious concerning my
English comrade, but Felix, who was too excited to sleep, promised to
bring me any information that he could gather. My head ached terribly,
but I managed to sleep, and for an hour or two at least I forgot the
dismal tragedy that had occurred.

The whole camp was astir in the early morning, and my comrade brought me
very welcome news. Roger had arrived during the night, with about a
dozen fellow-countrymen, tired out but unwounded.

"I half expected he was dead," I said; "he was in the very thickest of
the _melee_."

"Humph!" said Felix, "I warrant he fought with no greater bravery than
Edmond Le Blanc! He is a gallant fellow enough, but you need not worship
him as a hero."

I looked at my comrade with surprise, and I think he felt rather ashamed
of his ungenerous speech, as he continued: "however, he is unhurt, which
is the main thing. It seems we have lost quite a number of brave fellows
besides Conde at Jarnac."

"I suppose the last of the stragglers are in?"

"Yes, and we strike camp almost immediately. Anjou is very kind to give
us breathing time. According to our scouts, he is actually going to lay
siege to Cognac."

"He will meet with a warm reception!"

"If the citizens can hold him only for a few weeks," said Felix, "all
will go well. We are to be joined by strong reinforcements. The sun will
shine again, Edmond."

Making my way through the camp after breakfast I came across Roger, who
had Just risen from a brief sleep.

"I did not come to your tent last night," he said; "there was no need to
distu