The sisters now rushed in, hearing their father's call, Mary's eyes were red and swollen. Bertha was radiant.
"Young ladies! girls!" cried the marquis; "you are in it! You are to come with me! Here, read this."
And he held out to Bertha the letter Jean Oullier had just given him. The letter was thus worded:--
MONSIEUR LE MARQUIS DE SOUDAY,--It is desirable for the cause of King Henri V. that you hasten by several days the call to arms. Have the goodness, therefore, to assemble all the most devoted men that you have in the district which you command, and hold yourself and them, especially yourself, at my immediate orders.
I think that two more amazons in our little army will help to spur on the love and the self-love of our friends, and I ask you, my dear marquis, to be so very kind as to grant me your beautiful and charming huntresses as my aides-de-camp.
Your affectionate PETIT-PIERRE.
"Well," said Bertha, "are we to go?"
"Of course!" exclaimed the marquis.
"Then allow me, papa," said Bertha, "to present to you a recruit."
"As many as you like."