"I am not one, my lord," I replied, "to wish that it should be otherwise. All I wish is, that, in order to keep my men together, I may have, as it were, a detached command of my own people under your highness's commission, in order that, by fair war against the enemy in arms, I may be enabled to maintain my troop and advance myself. Neither the threshold of the cottage nor the hearth of the citizen shall ever be invaded by my people. I only want permission to attack the enemy whenever I can find occasion, and to cut off from him, as my legitimate prize, whatever I can meet with."
"That is soon granted," replied the Prince de Condé, "if we understand each other rightly. But what is that in your hand, Monsieur de Cerons? It seems a letter."
"I had forgotten it, my lord," I said; "it is one addressed to your highness on my behalf, I believe."
The prince took it and read it, and then turning with a smile to D'Andelot, he said, "We shall have Stuart with us in less than ten days; and he does more service, you know, than any ten besides. Now, Monsieur de Cerons. My friend Stuart here has explained all your plans more clearly than yourself; and, indeed, it is not always so easy to explain one's self as to let another do it. I fear very much, however, that you have attached yourself to the wrong side of the question, as far as obtaining wealth, at least, is concerned. You shall have, however, what seamen, I believe, call a roving commission; and on the following terms, remember. During all marches, countermarches, and on general service, you shall have the opportunity allowed you, as far as possible, of doing as you please. At other times, such as the eve of a general battle, the assault of a town, or any similar operation, you shall render yourself into the camp on due notice given you. In short, any special order given to you by me or by the Admiral de Coligny you shall obey as strictly as any other soldier; but, at the times when you are without any such orders, you shall not be called to account for anything you do at your own hand; with these provisos, that you shall neither commit, nor suffer to be committed by your people, any outrage upon, or pillage of, the peasantry of the country, that you shall neither exact contributions from villages, hamlets, or places friendly or unarmed, nor permit any plunder in towns taken by capitulation; and, in fact, shall only wage honourable war against enemies with arms in their hands. Nor shall you receive money called pati, or sufferance, from any persons whatsoever. On these conditions, all prizes whatsoever captured by yourself shall be at your own disposal, without claim or intervention from any persons whatsoever. This is all that can be done for you, and, if it suits you, it shall be done."
"It suits me perfectly, my lord," I replied; "I require nothing more; and, as far as in me lies, will never be absent from my post when my services may be wanted."
Some farther conversation ensued between the prince, D'Andelot, and myself, in which a great many other matters were settled with regard to my lodging in the camp, &c.; and, sending for his secretary, the Prince de Condé gave orders for the commission to be drawn up, which was immediately done, giving me authority to raise a company of fifty men, and imbodying all the stipulations contained above.
As soon as I had received it I rose to depart; but D'Andelot, after whispering for a moment to the prince, said, "It always gives an officer great honour, Monsieur de Cerons, to begin his career in any new service with some brilliant exploit. Now we propose to-morrow to attack the breach at Angoulême, which has been made by our batteries yesterday and to-day. Now the leading of this assault has been given to Monsieur de Genissac; but we have no doubt that he will suffer you to be his companion, if you choose to mount the breach among the first along with your men. The breach is in the wall of what is called the Park; but we will send Genissac to you in the course of to-morrow morning. You will be supported by the regiment of Monsieur de Corbouson; and you are to remember to obey promptly the orders you receive from that quarter."
It may well be supposed that, eager as I was to distinguish myself, I caught at the offer without hesitation. In this instance I had not the slightest fears in regard to my own inexperience, for I knew that I had nothing to do but to fight with courage and determination; and, having ascertained the hour the assault was likely to take place, I retired to seek the quarters assigned to me, which were in one of the little suburbs, as I had informed the prince that I had yet no tents with me.
In the anteroom I found the worthy merchants, and with them returned to the spot where I had left my men. As we went, Martin Vern informed me that he was to return to Bordeaux early on the following morning, and asked if he could execute any commission for me in that city, from which he was about to return again in ten or twelve days. He said nothing more at that time, but accompanied me to the little auberge in the suburb, after I had lodged my troopers as I had been directed. I found the hall of the inn, as may well be conceived, a scene of confusion almost indescribable. At first it seemed to me that everybody was talking, everybody was singing, everybody was drinking, and everybody was snuffing the candles, at the same time. Eyes swimming with excitement or dropping with sleepiness, faces heated and flushed with drink, mouths wide open with oaths, vociferations, or songs, and outstretched arms, crossing each other in various directions, were to be seen on every side, while the din and uproar were absolutely deafening.
The scene did not seem to strike the merchants as much as it did me; but Martin Vern turned out of that room again almost as soon as he had entered it, saying, "We shall doubtless find less confusion somewhere else;" and, after looking into the kitchen, in hopes that, protected by the awful genius of the culinary art, that place might be found somewhat more quiet, he mounted the stairs, and walked from bedroom to bedroom, which had all been turned into eating or drinking rooms, and which were, in most instances, crammed to the very doors.