“How did you find me?”

“I went to the Admiral’s gentlemen.  They said you were killed, and that your friend Monsieur Bellievre was distracted, and there was another gentleman, an Englishman, who looked very unhappy.  But we fetched a surgeon, who patched you up, and we carried you here.”

“Where, Jacques?”

“The city of Limoges, monsieur.  You are lodged at a comfortable inn, and now you have talked enough.”

“One more question, my good Jacques; how long have I been here?”

“Three days, monsieur.  Now I will get you some nourishing food, and afterwards you must sleep.”

The next morning, finding I was much stronger, Jacques was willing to answer further questions.  Felix had come through the fray unscathed, and Roger Braund was only slightly wounded.  Anjou, he said, had been thoroughly defeated, and there was already talk of the end of the war.

“And where are the troops now?” I asked.

“They marched in the direction of Poictiers.  It is rumoured that the Admiral intends to besiege the town.”

“It may be so,” I observed doubtfully, “but it is hardly likely.  That is the mistake Monseigneur made after Jarnac.”

“Well,” replied Jacques with a smile, “it cannot interest monsieur very much for the next three or four weeks.”

He had quite recovered from his own wounds, and was full of praise of the Count St. Cyr, who had treated him with the greatest kindness.

“The count is a noble gentleman,” he remarked, “and full of zeal for the Cause.  He is bringing his retainers to aid the Admiral.”

“He is an old man, too,” I said musingly.

“But with all the fire of a boy, monsieur.”

“Have you heard that a price has been set on my father’s head?” I asked presently.

“Yes,” and the worthy fellow’s face clouded over with passion, “that is Etienne Cordel’s handiwork.”

“But we have done the man no harm!”

“He hates your father, monsieur; and, besides, Le Blanc is a fine property.  Monseigneur and the Italian woman are deeply in his debt, and that would be a simple mode of payment.  ’Tis easy to give away what does not belong to one.  Many Huguenot estates have changed hands in that way.”

I thought Jacques was exaggerating the case, but not caring to argue the matter I said no more, and turning round dropped off into a refreshing sleep.

For a fortnight longer I lay in bed, and then the surgeon, who came every day, allowed me to get up.  My head was still dizzy, and my legs tottered under me, but, leaning on Jacques’ arm, I walked slowly up and down the room.  The next morning, still attended by my faithful servant, I went downstairs and out into the street, and from that day I fast began to recover my strength.

There was not much news of the war, beyond the fact that the Huguenots were besieging Poictiers, a piece of information that I was sorry to hear, since it seemed to me they would fritter away their strength for nothing.  The Admiral, however, doubtless possessed good reasons for his actions, and in any case it was not for me to question his wisdom.