"You were taken prisoner at the bridge of the Lahn?"
"Yes, monseigneur."
"Your people blew it up, M. Monjoy says. How was it that they did so without permitting you to repass it?"
"I know not, monseigneur," said I, for I would not own in that place that a British officer would act so basely as Shirley had done. The Duke repeated his question, but I simply bowed with the same answer.
"What forces are there?" he inquired.
"Only the Light Troop of my regiment—the 2nd Dragoons, or Ecossais Gris."
"The rest of the Regiment?"
"Are cantoned further down the river."
"Your strength, monsieur?" continued the Duke, glancing at a paper on the table.
"Six troops."