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more prolific than his speech； and therefore at the first
halt he sold his steed and with the money obtained from the
purchase took post horses。
34
On the Eve of Battle。
Raoul was aroused from his sombre reflections by his host；
who rushed into the apartment crying out； 〃The Spaniards！
the Spaniards！〃
That cry was of such importance as to overcome all
preoccupation。 The young men made inquiries and ascertained
that the enemy was advancing by way of Houdin and Bethune。
While Monsieur d'Arminges gave orders for the horses to be
made ready for departure； the two young men ascended to the
upper windows of the house and saw in the direction of
Marsin and of Lens a large body of infantry and cavalry。
This time it was not a wandering troop of partisans； it was
an entire army。 There was therefore nothing for them to do
but to follow the prudent advice of Monsieur d'Arminges and
beat a retreat。 They quickly went downstairs。 Monsieur
d'Arminges was already mounted。 Olivain had ready the horses
of the young men； and the lackeys of the Count de Guiche
guarded carefully between them the Spanish prisoner； mounted
on a pony which had been bought for his use。 As a further
precaution they had bound his hands。
The little company started off at a trot on the road to
Cambrin； where they expected to find the prince。 But he was
no longer there； having withdrawn on the previous evening to
La Bassee； misled by false intelligence of the enemy's
movements。 Deceived by this intelligence he had concentrated
his forces between Vieille…Chapelle and La Venthie； and
after a reconnoissance along the entire line； in company
with Marshal de Grammont； he had returned and seated himself
before a table； with his officers around him。 He questioned
them as to the news they had each been charged to obtain；
but nothing positive had been learned。 The hostile army had
disappeared two days before and seemed to have gone out of
existence。
Now an enemy is never so near and consequently so
threatening； as when he has completely disappeared。 The
prince was； therefore； contrary to his custom； gloomy and
anxious； when an officer entered and announced to Marshal de
Grammont that some one wished to see him。
The Duc de Grammont received permission from the prince by a
glance and went out。 The prince followed him with his eyes
and continued looking at the door； no one ventured to speak；
for fear of disturbing him。
Suddenly a dull and heavy noise was heard。 The prince leaped
to his feet； extending his hand in the direction whence came
the sound； there was no mistaking it it was the noise of
cannon。 Every one stood up。
At that moment the door opened。
〃Monseigneur；〃 said Marshal de Grammont； with a radiant
face； 〃will your highness permit my son； Count de Guiche；
and his traveling companion； Viscount de Bragelonne； to come
in and give news of the enemy； whom they have found while we
were looking for him？〃
〃What！〃 eagerly replied the prince； 〃will I permit？ I not
only permit； I desire； let them come in。〃
The marshal introduced the two young men and placed them
face to face with the prince。
〃Speak； gentlemen；〃 said the prince； saluting them； 〃first
speak； we shall have time afterward for the usual
compliments。 The most urgent thing now is to learn where the
enemy is and what he is doing。〃
It fell naturally to the Count de Guiche to make reply； not
only was he the elder； but he had been presented to the
prince by his father。 Besides； he had long known the prince；
whilst Raoul now saw him for the first time。 He therefore
narrated to the prince what they had seen from the inn at
Mazingarbe。
Meanwhile Raoul closely observed the young general； already
made so famous by the battles of Rocroy； Fribourg； and
Nordlingen。
Louis de Bourbon； Prince de Conde； who； since the death of
his father； Henri de Bourbon； was called； in accordance with
the custom of that period； Monsieur le Prince； was a young
man； not more than twenty…six or twenty…seven years old；
with the eye of an eagle agl' occhi grifani； as Dante
says aquiline nose； long； waving hair； of medium height；
well formed； possessed of all the qualities essential to the
successful soldier that is to say； the rapid glance；
quick decision； fabulous courage。 At the same time he was a
man of elegant manners and strong mind； so that in addition
to the revolution he had made in war； by his new
contributions to its methods； he had also made a revolution
at Paris； among the young noblemen of the court； whose
natural chief he was and who； in distinction from the social
leaders of the ancient court； modeled after Bassompierre；
Bellegarde and the Duke d'Angouleme； were called the
petits…maitres。
At the first words of the Count de Guiche； the prince；
having in mind the direction whence came the sound of
cannon； had understood everything。 The enemy was marching
upon Lens； with the intention； doubtless； of securing
possession of that town and separating from France the army
of France。 But in what force was the enemy？ Was it a corps
sent out to make a diversion？ Was it an entire army？ To this
question De Guiche could not respond。
Now； as these questions involved matters of gravest
consequence； it was these to which the prince had especially
desired an answer； exact； precise； positive。
Raoul conquered the very natural feeling of timidity he
experienced and approaching the prince：
〃My lord；〃 he said； 〃will you permit me to hazard a few
words on that subject； which will perhaps relieve you of
your uncertainty？〃
The prince turned and seemed to cover the young man with a
single glance； he smiled on perceiving that he was a child
hardly fifteen years old。
〃Certainly； monsieur； speak；〃 he said； softening his stern；
accented tones； as if he were speaking to a woman。
〃My lord；〃 said Raoul； blushing； 〃might examine the Spanish
prisoner。〃
〃Have you a Spanish prisoner？〃 cried the prince。
〃Yes； my lord。〃
〃Ah； that is true；〃 said De Guiche； 〃I had forgotten it。〃
〃That is easily understood； it was you who took him； count；〃
said Raoul； smiling。
The old marshal turned toward the viscount； grateful for
that praise of his son； whilst the prince exclaimed：
〃The young man is right； let the prisoner be brought in。〃
Meanwhile the prince took De Guiche aside and asked him how
the prisoner had been taken and who this young man was。
〃Monsieur；〃 said the prince； turning toward Raoul； 〃I know
that you have a letter from my sister； Madame de
Longueville； but I see that you have preferred commending
yourself to me by giving me good counsel。〃
〃My lord；〃 said Raoul； coloring up； 〃I did not wish to
interrupt your highness in a conversation so important as
that in which you were engaged with the count。 But here is
the letter。〃
〃Very well；〃 said the prince； 〃give it to me later。 Here is
the prisoner； let us attend to what is most pressing。〃
The prisoner was one of those military adventurers who sold
their blood to whoever would buy； and grew old in stratagems
and spoils。 Since he had been taken he had not uttered a
word； so that it was not known to what country he belonged。
The prince looked at him with unspeakable distrust。
〃Of what country are you？〃 a