"Oh! it's not mere curiosity that makes me ask, monseigneur; it is fear."
"What are you afraid of?"
"That they will be condemned to inaction, which would be a great pity; any man makes a mistake who allows a good weapon to rust."
"Don't be alarmed, captain, they won't rust; in a week they will have a chance to fight."
"In that case they may be killed!"
"It's very likely,—unless, in addition to your secret method of recruiting soldiers, you have a secret method of making them invulnerable."
"Oh! it's not that; but before they are killed I would like to have them paid for."
"Didn't you tell me that you had received ten thousand livres?"
"Yes, on account. Ask Monsieur Lenet; he is a man of method, and I am sure he will remember our agreement."
The duke turned to Lenet.