“I promised you beforehand to make him a captain in my guards,” said the Prince; “let him be nominated to-morrow.  I would know more of him, and raise him to a higher fortune, if he pleases me.  Let us now retire; the sun has set, and we are far from our army.  Tell my two good companies to follow us.”

The minister, after repeating the order, omitting the implied praise, placed himself on the King’s right hand, and the whole court quitted the bastion, now confided to the care of the Swiss, and returned to the camp.

The two red companies defiled slowly through the breach which they had effected with such promptitude; their countenances were grave and silent.

Cinq-Mars went up to his friend.

“These are heroes but ill recompensed,” said he; “not a favor, not a compliment.”

“I, on the other hand,” said the simple De Thou “I, who came here against my will—­receive one.  Such are courts, such is life; but above us is the true judge, whom men can not blind.”

“This will not prevent us from meeting death tomorrow, if necessary,” said the young Olivier, laughing.

CHAPTER XI

THE BLUNDERS

In order to appear before the King, Cinq-Mars had been compelled to mount the charger of one of the light horse, wounded in the affair, having lost his own at the foot of the rampart.  As the two companies were marching out, he felt some one touch his shoulder, and, turning round, saw old Grandchamp leading a very beautiful gray horse.

“Will Monsieur le Marquis mount a horse of his own?” said he.  “I have put on the saddle and housings of velvet embroidered in gold that remained in the trench.  Alas, when I think that a Spaniard might have taken it, or even a Frenchman!  For just now there are so many people who take all they find, as if it were their own; and then, as the proverb says, ’What falls in the ditch is for the soldier.’  They might also have taken the four hundred gold crowns that Monsieur le Marquis, be it said without reproach, forgot to take out of the holsters.  And the pistols!  Oh, what pistols!  I bought them in Germany; and here they are as good as ever, and with their locks perfect.  It was quite enough to kill the poor little black horse, that was born in England as sure as I was at Tours in Touraine, without also exposing these valuables to pass into the hands of the enemy.”

While making this lamentation, the worthy man finished saddling the gray horse.  The column was long enough filing out to give him time to pay scrupulous attention to the length of the stirrups and of the bands, all the while continuing his harangue.

“I beg your pardon, Monsieur, for being somewhat slow about this; but I sprained my arm slightly in lifting Monsieur de Thou, who himself raised Monsieur le Marquis during the grand scuffle.”

“How camest thou there at all, stupid?” said Cinq-Mars.  “That is not thy business.  I told thee to remain in the camp.”