He asked this almost in a tone of entreaty, keeping his eyes away from me, however, and nervously twisting at his moustache.
"And your secretary, as you call him, the abbé?"
"Oh, he will come too, and we could confess to him."
I hesitated for a second, and then made answer.
"Very well. Only you must be prepared to start at a moment's notice, and there will probably be hard riding and hard fighting, and there is yet another thing."
"What is that?"
"You must come as a simple volunteer, and must make no enquiry as to what the business is on which I am engaged. I risk my life for my own purposes; if you wish to do likewise you are welcome to join me, on the condition I have just stated."
"I accept with pleasure."
"Then that is settled, and I have a new comrade."
"Hurrah!" and he raised his glass to his lips.