The prince fancied he detected a slight irritation in this man's mind against Du Bouchage; therefore he continued to interrogate him.
"But," said he, "what was the comte's reason for soliciting so earnestly such a poor command?"
"First, zeal for the service, no doubt."
"First!—what else?"
"Ah! monseigneur, I do not know."
"You deceive me—you do know."
"Monseigneur, I can give only, even to your highness, public reasons."
"You see," said the duke, turning to the others, "I was quite right to hide myself, gentlemen, since there are in my army secrets from which I am excluded."
"Ah! monseigneur," said the ensign, "you misunderstand me; there are no secrets but those which concern M. du Bouchage. Might it not be, for example, that, while serving the general interests, he might have wished to render a service to some friend or relation by escorting him?"
"Who here is a friend or relation of the comte? Tell me, that, I may embrace him."