“By the lord, they did that!” and Guicheaux proceeded to display in turn his comrade’s honorable scars.
Bertrand looked at them, stubble-chinned rascals that they were, and felt a significant stiffening of the throat. It was no news to him that Dame Jeanne should have been ready to hear him slandered, but the loyalty of these rough dogs of war more than compensated for the smart.
“Hopart, Guicheaux, answer me. It was told then to madame my mother that Bertrand du Guesclin had played the traitor?”
They both stared at him and nodded.
“She believed it?”
Again the two heads bobbed acquiescence.
“And you?”
“We, captain?”
“Yes, you.”
“Well,” and Guicheaux looked embarrassed—“well, Brother Hopart, what did we do?”