"Look, it's Canolles!" exclaimed the young officers; "are you awake at last, baron?"
"Why, yes! what would you have? we live like the King of Yvetot here,—early to bed, and late to rise; but what the devil are you doing at this time of night?"
"Pardieu!" said Ravailly, "I should think that you might see. We are here to besiege you, that's all."
"Well, why are you here to besiege me?"
"To take your old fort."
Canolles began to laugh.
"Come," said Ravailly, "you surrender, don't you?"
"But I must know first to whom I am surrendering. How happens it that Navailles is serving against the king?"
"Faith, my dear fellow, because we have turned rebels. On thinking it over we concluded that Mazarin was a downright rascal, unworthy to be served by gallant gentlemen; so we went over to the princes. And you?"
"My dear fellow, I am an enthusiastic Épernonist."