A slight murmur of disappointment arose from the younger and more ardent members of the crowd; but the older men saw the force of the King’s words, and knew that it would be madness to throw away all the hardly-earned advantages of those long months just for a piece of chivalrous bravado.  So De Ribeaumont had to ride back to the French camp with Edward’s answer; and ere two more days had passed, the astonishing news was brought to the English lines that Philip had abandoned his camp, which was now in flames, and was retreating with his whole army by the way he had come.

“Was ever such a craven coward!” cried the Prince, in indignant disappointment; for all within the English camp had been hoping for battle, and had been looking to their arms, glad of any incident to vary the long monotony of the siege.  “Were I those gallant soldiers in yon fortress, I would serve no longer such a false, treacherous lord.  Were my father but their king, he would not leave them in such dire strait, with an army at his back to fight for him, be the opposing force a hundredfold greater than it is!”

And indeed it seemed as though the brave but desperate garrison within those walls saw that it was hopeless to try to serve such a master.  How bitter must their feelings have been when Philip turned and left them to their fate may well be imagined.  Hopeless and helpless, there was nothing but surrender before them now; and to make the best terms possible was the only thing that remained for them.  The day following Philip’s dastardly desertion, the signal that the city was ready to treat was hung out, and brave Sir Walter Manny, whose own history and exploits during the campaigns in Brittany and Gascony would alone fill a volume either of history or romance, was sent to confer on this matter with the governor of the city, the gallant De Vienne, who had been grievously wounded during the long siege.

Raymond’s sympathies had been deeply stirred by what he had heard and imagined of the sufferings of the citizens, and with the love of adventure and romance common to those days, he arrayed himself lightly in a dress that would not betray his nationality, and followed in the little train which went with Sir Walter.  The conference took place without the walls, but near to one of the gates.  Raymond did not press near to hear what was said, like the bulk of the men on both sides who accompanied the leaders, but he passed through the eager crowd and made for the gate itself, the wicket of which stood open; and so calm and assured was his air, and so deeply were the minds of the porters stirred by anxiety to know the fate of the town, that the youth passed in unheeded and unchallenged, and once within the ramparts he could go where he chose and see what he would.