"May I ask why?" I demanded, turning towards Montgomery with some surprise.
"With no ill meaning, I can assure you, Monsieur de Cerons," replied Montgomery. "I thought, if you were knighted for that exploit, the wags of the court would call you the knight of the valets.
"They must give him another name now, however," replied the Prince de Condé; "there lie the spurs, and he shall have them on his heels this night. They may then call him the Chevalier Alerte, if they like."
I thanked the prince, as may easily be supposed: for I imagine the time never was, and am certain it never will be, when any man of honour and of courage could feel the touch of the knightly sword upon his shoulder without sensations of joy and redoubled energy. I thought fit, in the first place, however, to let his highness know upon what occasion I had so boldly entered the enemy's camp, lest the personal object that conducted me there might be considered as a diminution of any honour attached to the act. I accordingly gave a full account of the whole transaction, which seemed, indeed, rather to augment than decrease the approbation of the prince. He paused and mused for some time, however, over the refusal of the Baron de Blancford to seize the opportunity of escape.
"It has long been reported," he said at length, "that the baron is wavering in his faith both to God and to his fellows in arms. On my honour! it were but right to detain this fair lady as a hostage for her father's conduct. What say you, De Cerons?" he added, with a smile: "Will you be her guardian?"
"I beseech your highness," I replied, "not to think of such a thing. Indeed, I intended to ask that your highness would send a flag to the Catholic camp to inquire whether the Baron de Blancford is detained there as a prisoner or not, and to demand that, if he be not there as a captive, a safe conduct may immediately be granted to his daughter and his domestics now in this camp, in order that they may join him without farther delay. I will, at the same time, write to him, explaining the cause of his daughter's temporary absence; and I trust that your highness will not refuse me this request."
"Certainly not, De Cerons," replied the prince. "But, if I do write, you must not expect me to spare your good cousin, for his conduct has been most base in the whole of this affair, and he must hear that we consider it such."
"Oh, in that matter be it as your highness pleases," I replied; "I have neither wish, nor reason to wish, that he should be spared; though perhaps, my lord, there may be causes for his conduct that we do not know."
"So shall it be, then, De Cerons. I will give the order this night. But, by my faith! you must see to the execution of it yourself, for I set out to-morrow morning, two hours before daylight, for Niort, Where I have business enough to do, in all conscience, during the five or six days that I shall be absent, to wring money from hard-handed usurers, and assistance from that great but stony-hearted woman, Elizabeth of England, who sees right willingly the internal feuds of France, but will give no aid to those whose part she pretends to espouse till they are driven to the last extremity."
"I had hoped, sir," I replied, "from what I heard from good Martin Vern, the merchant, that your highness was likely to obtain some supplies more easily."