"Only the Light Troop of my regiment--the 2nd Dragoons, or _Ecossais Gris_." "The rest of the Regiment?" "Are cantoned further down the river." "Your strength, monsieur?" continued the Duke, glancing at a paper on the table. "Six troops." "That we know," said Count Bourgneuf, brusquely, "there is a troop of your Scottish Grey Horse in each of the six villages along the Lahn; but what is their numerical strength?" "I have had no means of knowing since our rapid _pursuit_ at Minden," said I, with reserve. De Bourgneuf eyed me fiercely through his glass; but the Duke smiled, and asked, "Where are the other regiments of milord Granby's Cavalry division?" "I beg to be excused giving such information," replied I. "Then, monsieur," said the Duke, suavely, "have you any idea of when Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick proposes to break up from winter quarters and take the field?" "Happily I have no means of knowing--being merely a subaltern officer; but," added I, haughtily, "if I _did_ know, most assuredly I should decline informing the General of the enemy!" "_Très bien_--of course," said the old Duke, shrugging his shoulders. "Beware, sir!" said the Comte de Bourgneuf, with a dark frown on his stern visage; "you would not tell, even if you knew, say you?" "No, by Heaven!" said I, loftily. "Monseigneur le Duc, have I your permission to summon a file of the guard with a piece of cord? _Ha, coquin!_" he added, imperiously turning to me, "I have ere now forced a more unwilling tongue to speak, by tying a cord round a prisoner's head, and wrenching it with my pistol-barrel or sword-hilt till half the scalp came off. And this I did in a district named the Morbihan, a part of France with which you once affected to be familiar." This remark, and the keen, feverish glance which accompanied it, showed me at once that I stood on perilous ground. "M. le Comte," exclaimed Monjoy, "bethink you of what you say and do. Monsieur is a prisoner of war. _Ma foi!_ this will never pass." "When I have been robbed by a French soldier under arms I need not be surprised by this display of ruffianism in one of his officers," said I, calmly, but while my heart swelled with anger and apprehension. The Count started to his feet; but the Duke raised his hand and voice authoritatively: "Halt, Bourgneuf. In this matter your zeal goes beyond my wishes. But how say you, monsieur?" he added, turning sharply to me; "you speak of being robbed. Who has robbed you?" "Men of the regiment of Count de Clermont, deprived me of my cloak, of my haversack--there was little in it, save three days' half-rations; of my purse--there was little in it, so they were welcome to that too; but this man, who is now sentinel at your door, with the muzzle of his cocked musket at my head, like a common footpad or cutpurse, robbed me of a valuable ring, on which, for the memory of past days, I set a singular value."