Finding himself helpless, he handed me the document with the best grace he could muster, and I immediately placed it inside my doublet.
"Now," I exclaimed cheerfully, "we are in a hurry to reach our comrades, but we have no wish to ride into the midst of the Duke's troops. In order to avoid that calamity, we will make you our guide; but pray be careful, because in the event of a mistake you will be the first victim. My servant is an old soldier, while I have had some practice with the pistol. But this is a disagreeable subject; let us dismiss it."
"With all my heart," said he, laughing. "And now what would you have me do?"
"Put us on the track of our comrades, and prevent us from falling into the Duke's hands."
"That is," said he, "to return good for evil. Well, 'tis something of a novelty for me."
"You should practise it more frequently," I laughed, and with that we rode on, our prisoner being in the middle.
I hardly thought he would venture his life by misleading us of set purpose, yet for all that I rode cautiously, keeping my eyes open for any sign of the enemy. But either by good luck or our prisoner's skilful guidance—and it matters little which—we entirely avoided the Royalist army, and came up with our own troops just as they had halted for a short rest.
Being instantly challenged, I gave my name to the officer, and asked where the Admiral was to be found.
"I will take you to him," said he, and he led us through the camp, walking by the horse's side.
Coligny was eating his frugal meal, but he glanced up at our approach, and the officer said, "Edmond Le Blanc, general, who claims to belong to your household."