But neither the wine nor the negligence of my question had quite lulled their caution to sleep. They shook their heads, and laughed, saying,
"We're forbidden to tell that."
"Yet, if it be so simple as to have no meaning, what harm in telling it?"
"But orders are orders, and we're soldiers," answered the shrewd short fellow.
The idea had been working in my brain, growing stronger and stronger till it reached conviction. I determined now to put it to the proof.
"Tut," said I. "You make a pretty secret of it, and I don't blame you. But I can guess your riddle. Listen. If anything befell M. de Fontelles, which God forbid——"
"Amen, amen," they murmured with a chuckle.
"You two, or if fate left but one, that one, would ride on at his best speed to London, and there seek out the Ambassador of the Most Christian King. Isn't it so?"
"So much, sir, you might guess from what we've said."