William made no answering salute, but stood rigid, looking slight and sombre in his dark attire.
“Have you anything to say?” he asked.
M. de Montbas straightened himself—
“I have my report to make, Your Highness,” he said in a strained voice; “but Your Highness wished to see me——”
“How many men have you with you?”
M. de Montbas bit his lower lip—
“I have lost fifteen hundred, Sir.”
“That is half your force.”
“We were pursued by a detachment of cavalry under M. de Rochfort.”
“And——?”