‘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 hand on his lips and stopped him.
‘Hush!’ he said. Then more quietly, ‘Your pardon, M. le Capitaine; but the least said the soonest mended. Shall I give orders to the men to fall in?’
The Captain nodded sullenly.
The Lieutenant turned to his prisoner.
‘Take him down!’ he commanded 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?’
The Lieutenant stepped up to him.