"Yes."
"That's all."
Canolles gave the man a louis, and motioned to him to withdraw at once.
Then, with wildly beating heart, he concealed himself in the corner of a bastion, where he could read the letter at his ease.
It contained only these two lines:—
"You are to be attacked. If you are no longer worthy of me, show yourself at least worthy of yourself."
The letter was not signed, but Canolles recognized Madame de Cambes as he had recognized Pompée; he looked to see if anybody was looking at him, and blushing like a child over his first love, he put the paper to his lips, kissed it ardently, and placed it upon his heart.
Then he mounted the crown of the bastion, whence he could follow the course of the Garonne well-nigh a league, and could see the whole extent of the surrounding plain.
Nothing was to be seen upon land or water.
"The day will pass like this," he muttered; "they won't come by daylight; they have probably halted to rest on the way, and will begin the attack this evening."