'Accident!' he laughed shortly. 'And that accident having been condoned, you want to set off saving my life against breaking the orders of the General?' 'It will not occur again.' '_Croix Dieu!_ I will take care of that. It will not occur again with you, M. d'Auriac. See here, I will pay my debt; but first ask if I have your parole not to attempt escape. If you do not give it--'and he laid his hand on a call-bell, with an inquiring look towards me. 'I will not attempt escape.' 'Then you will not have to complain of the justice of de Rone. To-morrow some things will happen, and amongst them will be the lamented death of the Sieur d'Auriac. This much I will tell you. To-morrow the King and I meet once more--you must die on the field. Win or lose, if I catch you alive at the close of the day, I will hang you as high as Haman; and now go.' CHAPTER II M. DE RONE CANNOT READ A CYPHER My first thought on leaving de Rone was to make my way direct to the quarters of the staff, where I felt sure of welcome and accommodation for the rest of the night. These lay a hundred toises or so from the General's pavilion, facing from me; but as I came near to them I saw a pennon of light streaming from the partly open door of the largest tent, and from within burst a chorus of voices singing an old _chanson_ of Guienne. Frere Jacques, dormez-vous? Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous? Sonnez les matines, sonnez les matines-- Bim! Baum! Baum!