Raoul was aroused from his sombre reflections by his host,who rushed into the apartment crying out, "The Spaniards!the Spaniards!"

That cry was of such importance as to overcome allpreoccupation. The young men made inquiries and ascertainedthat the enemy was advancing by way of Houdin and Bethune.

While Monsieur d'Arminges gave orders for the horses to bemade ready for departure, the two young men ascended to theupper windows of the house and saw in the direction ofMarsin and of Lens a large body of infantry and cavalry.This time it was not a wandering troop of partisans; it wasan entire army. There was therefore nothing for them to dobut to follow the prudent advice of Monsieur d'Arminges andbeat a retreat. They quickly went downstairs. Monsieurd'Arminges was already mounted. Olivain had ready the horsesof the young men, and the lackeys of the Count de Guicheguarded carefully between them the Spanish prisoner, mountedon a pony which had been bought for his use. As a furtherprecaution they had bound his hands.

The little company started off at a trot on the road toCambrin, where they expected to find the prince. But he wasno longer there, having withdrawn on the previous evening toLa Bassee, misled by false intelligence of the enemy'smovements. Deceived by this intelligence he had concentratedhis forces between Vieille-Chapelle and La Venthie; andafter a reconnoissance along the entire line, in companywith Marshal de Grammont, he had returned and seated himselfbefore a table, with his officers around him. He questionedthem as to the news they had each been charged to obtain,but nothing positive had been learned. The hostile army haddisappeared two days before and seemed to have gone out ofexistence.

Now an enemy is never so near and consequently sothreatening, as when he has completely disappeared. Theprince was, therefore, contrary to his custom, gloomy andanxious, when an officer entered and announced to Marshal deGrammont that some one wished to see him.

The Duc de Grammont received permission from the prince by aglance and went out. The prince followed him with his eyesand continued looking at the door; no one ventured to speak,for fear of disturbing him.

Suddenly a dull and heavy noise was heard. The prince leapedto his feet, extending his hand in the direction whence camethe sound, there was no mistaking it - it was the noise ofcannon. Every one stood up.

At that moment the door opened.

"Monseigneur," said Marshal de Grammont, with a radiantface, "will your highness permit my son, Count de Guiche,and his traveling companion, Viscount de Bragelonne, to comein and give news of the enemy, whom they have found while wewere looking for him?"

"What!" eagerly replied the prince, "will I permit? I notonly permit, I desire; let them come in."

The marshal introduced the two young men and placed themface to face with the prince.

"Speak, gentlemen," said the prince, saluting them; "firstspeak; we shall have time afterward for the usualcompliments. The most urgent thing now is to learn where theenemy is and what he is doing."

It fell naturally to the Count de Guiche to make reply; notonly was he the elder, but he had been presented to theprince by his father. Besides, he had long known the prince,whilst Raoul now saw him for the first time. He thereforenarrated to the prince what they had seen from the inn atMazingarbe.

Meanwhile Raoul closely observed the young general, alreadymade so famous by the battles of Rocroy, Fribourg, andNordlingen.

Louis de Bourbon, Prince de Conde, who, since the death ofhis father, Henri de Bourbon, was called, in accordance withthe custom of that period, Monsieur le Prince, was a youngman, not more than twenty-six or twenty-seven years old,with the eye of an eagle - agl' occhi grifani, as Dantesays - aquiline nose, long, waving hair, of medium height,well formed, possessed of all the qualities essential to thesuccessful soldier - that is to say, the rapid glance,quick decision, fabulous courage. At the same time he was aman of elegant manners and strong mind, so that in additionto the revolution he had made in war, by his newcontributions to its methods, he had also made a revolutionat Paris, among the young noblemen of the court, whosenatural chief he was and who, in distinction from the socialleaders of the ancient court, modeled after Bassompierre,Bellegarde and the Duke d'Angouleme, were called thepetits-maitres.

At the first words of the Count de Guiche, the prince,having in mind the direction whence came the sound ofcannon, had understood everything. The enemy was marchingupon Lens, with the intention, doubtless, of securingpossession of that town and separating from France the armyof France. But in what force was the enemy? Was it a corpssent out to make a diversion? Was it an entire army? To thisquestion De Guiche could not respond.

Now, as these questions involved matters of gravestconsequence, it was these to which the prince had especiallydesired an answer, exact, precise, positive.

Raoul conquered the very natural feeling of timidity heexperienced and approaching the prince:

"My lord," he said, "will you permit me to hazard a fewwords on that subject, which will perhaps relieve you ofyour uncertainty?"

The prince turned and seemed to cover the young man with asingle glance; he smiled on perceiving that he was a childhardly fifteen years old.

"Certainly, monsieur, speak," he said, softening his stern,accented tones, as if he were speaking to a woman.

"My lord," said Raoul, blushing, "might examine the Spanishprisoner."

"Have you a Spanish prisoner?" cried the prince.

"Yes, my lord."

"Ah, that is true," said De Guiche; "I had forgotten it."

"That is easily understood; it was you who took him, count,"said Raoul, smiling.

The old marshal turned toward the viscount, grateful forthat praise of his son, whilst the prince exclaimed:

"The young man is right; let the prisoner be brought in."

Meanwhile the prince took De Guiche aside and asked him howthe prisoner had been taken and who this young man was.

"Monsieur," said the prince, turning toward Raoul, "I knowthat you have a letter from my sister, Madame deLongueville; but I see that you have preferred commendingyourself to me by giving me good counsel."

"My lord," said Raoul, coloring up, "I did not wish tointerrupt your highness in a conversation so important asthat in which you were engaged with the count. But here isthe letter."

"Very well," said the prince; "give it to me later. Here isthe prisoner; let us attend to what is most pressing."

The prisoner was one of those military adventurers who soldtheir blood to whoever would buy, and grew old in stratagemsand spoils. Since he had been taken he had not uttered aword, so that it was not known to what country he belonged.The prince looked at him with unspeakable distrust.

"Of what country are you?" asked the prince.

The prisoner muttered a few words in a foreign tongue.

"Ah! ah! it seems that he is a Spaniard. Do you speakSpanish, Grammont?"

"Faith, my lord, but indifferently."

"And I not at all," said the prince, laughing. "Gentlemen,"he said, turning to those who were near him "can any one ofyou speak Spanish and serve me as interpreter?"

"I can, my lord," said Raoul.

"Ah, you speak Spanish?"

"Enough, I think, to fulfill your highness's wishes on thisoccasion."

Meanwhile the prisoner had remained impassive and as if hehad no understanding of what was taking place.

"My lord asks of what country you are," said the young man,in the purest Castilian.

"Ich bin ein Deutscher," replied the prisoner.

"What in the devil does he say?" asked the prince. "What newgibberish is that?"

"He says he is German, my lord," replied Raoul; "but I doubtit, for his accent is bad and his pronunciation defective."

"Then you speak German, also?" asked the prince.

"Yes, my lord."

"Well enough to question him in that language?"

"Yes, my lord."

"Question him, then."

Raoul began the examination, but the result justified hisopinion. The prisoner did not understand, or seemed not tounderstand, what Raoul said to him; and Raoul could hardlyunderstand his replies, containing a mixture of Flemish andAlsatian. However, amidst all the prisoner's efforts toelude a systematic examination, Raoul had recognized hisnatural accent.

"Non siete Spagnuolo," he said; "non siete Tedesco; sieteItaliano."

The prisoner started and bit his lips.

"Ah, that," said the prince, "I understand that languagethoroughly; and since he is Italian I will myself continuethe examination. Thank you, viscount," continued the prince,laughing, "and I appoint you from this moment myinterpreter."

But the prisoner was not less unwilling to respond inItalian than in the other languages; his aim was to eludethe examination. Therefore, he knew nothing either of theenemy's numbers, or of those in command, or of the purposeof the army.

"Very good," said the prince, understanding the reason ofthat ignorance; "the man was caught in the act ofassassination and robbery; he might have purchased his lifeby speaking; he doesn't wish to speak. Take him out andshoot him."

The prisoner turned pale. The two soldiers who had broughthim in took him, each by one arm, and led him toward thedoor, whilst the prince, turning to Marshal de Grammont,seemed to have already forgotten the order he had given.

When he reached the threshold of the door the prisonerstopped. The soldiers, who knew only their orders, attemptedto force him along.

"One moment," said the prisoner, in French. "I am ready tospeak, my lord."

"Ah! ah!" said the prince, laughing, "I thought we shouldcome to that. I have a sure method of limbering tongues.Young men, take advantage of it against the time when youmay be in command."

"But on condition," continued the prisoner, "that yourhighness will swear that my life shall be safe."

"Upon my honor," said the prince.

"Question, then, my lord."

"Where did the army cross the Lys?"

"Between Saint-Venant and Aire."

"By whom is it commanded?"

"By Count de Fuonsaldagna, General Beck and the archduke."

"Of how many does it consist?"

"Eighteen thousand men and thirty-six cannon."

"And its aim is?"

"Lens."

"You see; gentlemen!" said the prince, turning with atriumphant air toward Marshal de Grammont and the otherofficers.

"Yes, my lord," said the marshal, "you have divined all thatwas possible to human genius."

"Recall Le Plessis, Bellievre, Villequier and D'Erlac," saidthe prince, "recall all the troops that are on this side ofthe Lys. Let them hold themselves in readiness to marchto-night. To-morrow, according to all probability, we shallattack the enemy."

"But, my lord," said Marshal de Grammont, "consider thatwhen we have collected all our forces we shall have hardlythirteen thousand men."

"Monsieur le marechal," said the prince, with that wonderfulglance that was peculiar to him, "it is with small armiesthat great battles are won."

Then turning toward the prisoner, "Take away that man," hesaid, "and keep him carefully in sight. His life isdependent on the information he has given us; if it is true,he shall be free; if false, let him be shot."

The prisoner was led away.

"Count de Guiche," said the prince, "it is a long time sinceyou saw your father, remain here with him. Monsieur," hecontinued, addressing Raoul, "if you are not too tired,follow me."

"To the end of the world, my lord!" cried Raoul, feeling anunknown enthusiasm for that young general, who seemed to himso worthy of his renown.

The prince smiled; he despised flatterers, but heappreciated enthusiasts.

"Come, monsieur," he said, "you are good in council, as wehave already discovered; to-morrow we shall know if you aregood in action."

"And I," said the marshal, "what am I to do?"

"Wait here to receive the troops. I shall either return forthem myself or shall send a courier directing you to bringthem to me. Twenty guards, well mounted, are all that Ishall need for my escort."

"That is very few," said the marshal.

"It is enough," replied the prince. "Have you a good horse,Monsieur de Bragelonne?"

"My horse was killed this morning, my lord, and I am mountedprovisionally on my lackey's."

"Choose for yourself in my stables the horse you like best.No false modesty; take the best horse you can find. You willneed it this evening, perhaps; you will certainly need itto-morrow."

Raoul didn't wait to be told twice; he knew that withsuperiors, especially when those superiors are princes, thehighest politeness is to obey without delay or argument; hewent down to the stables, picked out a pie-bald Andalusianhorse, saddled and bridled it himself, for Athos had advisedhim to trust no one with those important offices at a timeof danger, and went to rejoin the prince, who at that momentmounted his horse.

"Now, monsieur," he said to Raoul, "will you give me theletter you have brought?"

Raoul handed the letter to the prince.

"Keep near me," said the latter.

The prince threw his bridle over the pommel of the saddle,as he was wont to do when he wished to have both hands free,unsealed the letter of Madame de Longueville and started ata gallop on the road to Lens, attended by Raoul and hissmall escort, whilst messengers sent to recall the troopsset out with a loose rein in other directions. The princeread as he hastened on.

"Monsieur," he said, after a moment, "they tell me greatthings of you. I have only to say, after the little that Ihave seen and heard, that I think even better of you than Ihave been told.'

Raoul bowed.

Meanwhile, as the little troop drew nearer to Lens, thenoise of the cannon sounded louder. The prince kept his gazefixed in the direction of the sound with the steadfastnessof a bird of prey. One would have said that his gaze couldpierce the branches of trees which limited his horizon. Fromtime to time his nostrils dilated as if eager for the smellof powder, and he panted like a horse.

At length they heard the cannon so near that it was evidentthey were within a league of the field of battle, and at aturn of the road they perceived the little village of Aunay.

The peasants were in great commotion. The report of Spanishcruelty had gone out and every one was frightened. The womenhad already fled, taking refuge in Vitry; only a few menremained. On seeing the prince they hastened to meet him.One of them recognized him.

"Ah, my lord," he said, "have you come to drive away thoserascal Spaniards and those Lorraine robbers?"

"Yes," said the prince, "if you will serve me as guide."

"Willingly, my lord. Where does your highness wish to go?"

"To some elevated spot whence I can look down on Lens andthe surrounding country - - "

"In that case, I'm your man."

"I can trust you - you are a true Frenchman?"

"I am an old soldier of Rocroy, my lord."

"Here," said the prince, handing him a purse, "here is forRocroy. Now, do you want a horse, or will you go afoot?"

"Afoot, my lord; I have served always in the infantry.Besides, I expect to lead your highness into places whereyou will have to walk."

"Come, then," said the prince; "let us lose no time."

The peasant started off, running before the prince's horse;then, a hundred steps from the village, he took a narrowroad hidden at the bottom of the valley. For a half leaguethey proceeded thus, the cannon-shot sounding so near thatthey expected at each discharge to hear the hum of theballs. At length they entered a path which, going out fromthe road, skirted the mountainside. The prince dismounted,ordered one of his aids and Raoul to follow his example, anddirected the others to await his orders, keeping themselvesmeanwhile on the alert. He then began to ascend the path.

In about ten minutes they reached the ruins of an oldchateau; those ruins crowned the summit of a hill whichoverlooked the surrounding country. At a distance of hardlya quarter of a league they looked down on Lens, at bay, andbefore Lens the enemy's entire army.

With a single glance the prince took in the extent ofcountry that lay before him, from Lens as far as Vimy. In amoment the plan of the battle which on the following day wasto save France the second time from invasion was unrolled inhis mind. He took a pencil, tore a page from his tablets andwrote:

My Dear Marshal, - In an hour Lens will be in the enemy'spossession. Come and rejoin me; bring with you the wholearmy. I shall be at Vendin to place it in position.To-morrow we shall retake Lens and beat the enemy."

Then, turning toward Raoul: "Go, monsieur," he said; "ridefast and give this letter to Monsieur de Grammont."

Raoul bowed, took the letter, went hastily down themountain, leaped on his horse and set out at a gallop. Aquarter of an hour later he was with the marshal.

A portion of the troops had already arrived and theremainder was expected from moment to moment. Marshal deGrammont put himself at the head of all the availablecavalry and infantry and took the road to Vendin, leavingthe Duc de Chatillon to await and bring on the rest. All theartillery was ready to move, and started off at a moment'snotice.

It was seven o'clock in the evening when the marshal arrivedat the appointed place. The prince awaited him there. As hehad foreseen, Lens had fallen into the hands of the enemyimmediately after Raoul's departure. The event was announcedby the cessation of the firing.

As the shadows of night deepened the troops summoned by theprince arrived in successive detachments. Orders were giventhat no drum should be beaten, no trumpet sounded.

At nine o'clock the night had fully come. Still a last rayof twilight lighted the plain. The army marched silently,the prince at the head of the column. Presently the armycame in sight of Lens; two or three houses were in flamesand a dull noise was heard which indicated what sufferingwas endured by a town taken by assault.

The prince assigned to every one his post. Marshal deGrammont was to hold the extreme left, resting on Mericourt.The Duc de Chatillon commanded the centre. Finally, theprince led the right wing, resting on Aunay. The order ofbattle on the morrow was to be that of the positions takenin the evening. Each one, on awaking, would find himself onthe field of battle.

The movement was executed in silence and with precision. Atten o'clock every one was in his appointed position; athalf-past ten the prince visited the posts and gave hisfinal orders for the following day.

Three things were especially urged upon the officers, whowere to see that the soldiers observed them scrupulously:the first, that the different corps should so march thatcavalry and infantry should be on the same line and thateach body should protect its gaps; the second, to go to thecharge no faster than a walk; the third, to let the enemyfire first.

The prince assigned the Count de Guiche to his father andkept Bragelonne near his own person; but the two young mensought the privilege of passing the night together and itwas accorded them. A tent was erected for them near that ofthe marshal.

Although the day had been fatiguing, neither of them wasinclined to sleep. And besides, even for old soldiers theevening before a battle is a serious time; it was so withgreater reason to two young men who were about to witnessfor the first time that terrible spectacle. On the eveningbefore a battle one thinks of a thousand things forgottentill then; those who are indifferent to one another becomefriends and those who are friends become brothers. It neednot be said that if in the depths of the heart there is asentiment more tender, it reaches then, quite naturally, thehighest exaltation of which it is capable. Some sentiment ofthis kind must have been cherished by each one of these twofriends, for each of them almost immediately sat down byhimself at an end of the tent and began to write.

The letters were long - the four pages were covered withclosely written words. The writers sometimes looked up ateach other and smiled; they understood without speaking,their organizations were so delicate and sympathetic. Theletters being finished, each put his own into two envelopes,so that no one, without tearing the first envelope, coulddiscover to whom the second was addressed; then they drewnear to each other and smilingly exchanged their letters.

"In case any evil should happen to me," said Bragelonne.

"In case I should be killed," said De Guiche.

They then embraced each other like two brothers, and eachwrapping himself in his cloak they soon passed into thatkindly sleep of youth which is the prerogative of birds,flowers and infants.