"Yes, he is!" the captain retorted offensively. "Have you any objection to make to that, Master Spy?"
"None," I replied. "But I shall go with you. And if you live three months, I shall kill you for that name--behind the barracks at Auch, M. le Capitaine."
He changed colour, but he answered me boldly enough. "I don't know that you will go with us. That is as we please," he continued, with a snarl.
"I have the Cardinal's orders," I said sternly.
"The Cardinal?" he exclaimed, stung to fury by this repetition of the name. "The Cardinal be--"
But the lieutenant laid his hands on his lips, and stopped him. "Hush!" he said. Then more quietly, "Your pardon, M. le Capitaine. Shall I give orders to the men to fall in?"
The captain nodded sullenly.
"Take him down!" the lieutenant ordered, in his harsh, monotonous voice. "Throw his blouse over him, and tie his hands. And do you two, Paul and Lebrun, guard him. Michel, bring the whip, or he may forget how it tastes. Sergeant, choose four good men and dismiss the rest to their quarters."
"Shall we need the horses?" the sergeant asked.
"I don't know," the captain answered peevishly. "What does the rogue say?"