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〃Here；〃 said the prince； handing him a purse； 〃here is for Rocroy。 Now； do you want a horse； or will you go afoot？〃
〃Afoot； my lord； I have served always in the infantry。 Besides； I expect to lead your highness into places where you will have to walk。〃
〃e； then；〃 said the prince； 〃let us lose no time。〃
The peasant started off； running before the prince's horse； then； a hundred steps from the village； he took a narrow road hidden at the bottom of the valley。 For a half league they proceeded thus； the cannon…shot sounding so near that they expected at each discharge to hear the hum of the balls。 At length they entered a path which； going out from the road； skirted the mountainside。 The prince dismounted； ordered one of his aids and Raoul to follow his example； and directed the others to await his orders； keeping themselves meanwhile on the alert。 He then began to ascend the path。
In about ten minutes they reached the ruins of an old chateau； those ruins crowned the summit of a hill which overlooked the surrounding country。 At a distance of hardly a quarter of a league they looked down on Lens； at bay； and before Lens the enemy's entire army。
With a single glance the prince took in the extent of country that lay before him； from Lens as far as Vimy。 In a moment the plan of the battle which on the following day was to save France the second time from invasion was unrolled in his mind。 He took a pencil； tore a page from his tablets and wrote：
My Dear Marshal； In an hour Lens will be in the enemy's possession。 e and rejoin me； bring with you the whole army。 I shall be at Vendin to place it in position。 To…morrow we shall retake Lens and beat the enemy。〃
Then； turning toward Raoul： 〃Go； monsieur；〃 he said； 〃ride fast and give this letter to Monsieur de Grammont。〃
Raoul bowed； took the letter； went hastily down the mountain； leaped on his horse and set out at a gallop。 A quarter of an hour later he was with the marshal。
A portion of the troops had already arrived and the remainder was expected from moment to moment。 Marshal de Grammont put himself at the head of all the available cavalry and infantry and took the road to Vendin； leaving the Duc de Chatillon to await and bring on the rest。 All the artillery was ready to move； and started off at a moment's notice。
It was seven o'clock in the evening when the marshal arrived at the appointed place。 The prince awaited him there。 As he had foreseen； Lens had fallen into the hands of the enemy immediately after Raoul's departure。 The event was announced by the cessation of the firing。
As the shadows of night deepened the troops summoned by the prince arrived in successive detachments。 Orders were given that no drum should be beaten； no trumpet sounded。
At nine o'clock the night had fully e。 Still a last ray of twilight lighted the plain。 The army marched silently； the prince at the head of the column。 Presently the army came in sight of Lens； two or three houses were in flames and a dull noise was heard which indicated what suffering was endured by a town taken by assault。
The prince assigned to every one his post。 Marshal de Grammont was to hold the extreme left； resting on Mericourt。 The Duc de Chatillon manded the centre。 Finally； the prince led the right wing； resting on Aunay。 The order of battle on the morrow was to be that of the positions taken in the evening。 Each one； on awaking； would find himself on the field of battle。
The movement was executed in silence and with precision。 At ten o'clock every one was in his appointed position； at half…past ten the prince visited the posts and gave his final orders for the following day。
Three things were especially urged upon the officers； who were to see that the soldiers observed them scrupulously： the first； that the different corps should so march that cavalry and infantry should be on the same line and that each body should protect its gaps； the second； to go to the charge no faster than a walk； the third； to let the enemy fire first。
The prince assigned the Count de Guiche to his father and kept Bragelonne near his own person； but the two young men sought the privilege of passing the night together and it was accorded them。 A tent was erected for them near that of the marshal。
Although the day had been fatiguing； neither of them was inclined to sleep。 And besides； even for old soldiers the evening before a battle is a serious time； it was so with greater reason to two young men who were about to witness for the first time that terrible spectacle。 On the evening before a battle one thinks of a thousand things forgotten till then； those who are indifferent to one another bee friends and those who are friends bee brothers。 It need not be said that if in the depths of the heart there is a sentiment more tender； it reaches then； quite naturally； the highest exaltation of which it is capable。 Some sentiment of this kind must have been cherished by each one of these two friends； for each of them almost immediately sat down by himself at an end of the tent and began to write。
The letters were long the four pages were covered with closely written words。 The writers sometimes looked up at each other and smiled； they understood without speaking； their organizations were so delicate and sympathetic。 The letters being finished； each put his own into two envelopes； so that no one； without tearing the first envelope； could discover to whom the second was addressed； then they drew near to each other and smilingly exchanged their letters。
〃In case any evil should happen to me；〃 said Bragelonne。
〃In case I should be killed；〃 said De Guiche。
They then embraced each other like two brothers； and each wrapping himself in his cloak they soon passed into that kindly sleep of youth which is the prerogative of birds； flowers and infants。
A Dinner in the Old Style
The second interview between the former musketeers was not so formal and threatening as the first。 Athos； with his superior understanding； wisely deemed that the supper table would be the most plete and satisfactory point of reunion； and at the moment when his friends； in deference to his deportment and sobriety； dared scarcely speak of some of their former good dinners； he was the first to propose that they should all assemble around some well spread table and abandon themselves unreservedly to their own natural character and manners a freedom which had formerly contributed so much to that good understanding between them which gave them the name of the inseparables。 For different reasons this was an agreeable proposition to them all； and it was therefore agreed that each should leave a very exact address and that upon the request of any of the associates a meeting should be convoked at a famous eating house in the Rue de la Monnaie； of the sign of the Hermitage。 The first rendezvous was fixed for the following Wednesday； at eight o'clock in the evening precisely。
On that day； in fact； the four friends arrived punctually at the hour； each from his own abode or occupation。 Porthos had been trying a new horse； D'Artagnan was on guard at the Louvre； Aramis had been to visit one of his