DENISE.

Do you hear?

LA HOGUE.

[Impatiently.]

Hear what?

DENISE.

The drums and piccolos yonder.

LA HOGUE.

[Listening.]

I can hear nothing.

[Drums, etc., sound more loud.

DENISE.

But listen now, it grows louder—­up from Ville d’Avranches.

LA HOGUE.

[Starting up.]

D’Avranches?—­Ha!  Re-inforcements for the Kings’ army!  None too soon!

[Drums, etc., cease.]

[Enter an ORDERLY, who presents papers.  LA HOGUE takes papers, reads, and exclaims.] The Count de Parame with recruits!

[To the ORDERLY.]

Tell your Colonel to report here instantly!  General de la Rochejacquelein [Enter LA ROCHEJACQUELEIN.] is indignant at his delay, and—­

LA ROCHEJACQUELEIN.

[To LA HOGUE.]

Gently, old friend!  La Rochejacquelein will speak for himself.

[To ORDERLY.]

Ask the Count to honour me with his presence here as speedily as possible.

[Exit ORDERLY.]

Now these re-inforcements have arrived, we’ll give these rebels battle.

LA HOGUE.

At last, thank God!  And we’re ready for the fight.

[Pointing.]

In the Faubourg de Calvaire there’s hardly a house but harbours a detachment of our men.

LA ROCHE.

With that village in our hands we’ll bring Granville town to terms.  To-night we will assault the place at every point.

LA HOGUE.

[Reverently.]

And God in mercy aid King Louis’ men!

LA ROCHE and DENISE. [Together.]

Amen!

LA ROCHE.

[To LA HOGUE.]

Await the Count upon the terrace, and take him to my private room.  But no roughness to the Colonel—­try to be charming for a change.

LA HOGUE.

Bah!  Leave charmers to women,—­only fighters win at war!

[Exit.

LA ROCHE.

[To DENISE.]

How long since you have heard from Jean Litais?

DENISE.