'_Ma foi!_ Yes. It is the devil being hustled up so early in the morning--I am yet but half awake.' 'I was surprised to find you here. I thought you were with the Archduke and de Mayenne.' 'What! have you not heard?' 'What in the devil's name could I hear on those cursed outposts?' 'Then in your ear--the Remois have gone from us, and de Mayenne and the Guisard have passed over to the King. My news is certain, and the Archduke has sent a cypher to de Rone bidding him retreat at once on Amiens.' 'But this does not look like a retreat.' 'No; de Rone has lost the key of the cypher.' We both laughed, and Belin went on: 'It was droll. I saw him receive the message, which the old fox must have read at a glance. But he turned it this way and that, and looking at Egmont, said as calmly as possible, "Ride back to Amiens and fetch me the key. I have lost mine and cannot follow the cypher"--but hark!' and Belin interrupted himself, 'there is de Rethelois' good morning.' Even as he spoke three bright flashes came from the citadel of La Fere, and the big guns from the bastion of Ste. Genevieve boomed sullenly into the morning. Then a long streak of fire ran across the grey mist, followed by the angry crackle of the petronels, above which the reports of the bombards of the trench-masters, as they replied to de Rethelois' artillery, sounded like strokes on a war drum. '_Ventre St. Gris!_ The Spaniards have drawn first blood, Belin.' 'M. d'Auriac!' De Rone's voice stopped any further talk, and I spurred to his side. 'My compliments to the Conde de Leyva and ask him not to waste time spitting at de Rethelois--tell him to leave a sufficient force to hold the garrison in check, and move across the river towards St. Gobains--report yourself to me at the ford.' I galloped off, and when I reached the Spaniard, whom I found with some difficulty, I discovered that he had already anticipated de Rone's orders, and had besides almost cut off a sortie from the city. There was nothing for it, therefore, but to wish de Leyva a pleasant day and to go on to the ford. And now a pale band of orange stretched across the east, and daylight rapidly came. A fair breeze sprang up with the sun, blowing the vapour into long feathery clouds that rolled slowly to the west. So heavy was the fire de Rethelois kept up from the citadel that its square keep was entirely hidden by the smoke; but as I rode towards the ford down the long slope that ended in the Red Mill, I saw on my right the whole of de Rone's army, advancing to the river in long even columns, and on my left, where they appeared to have sprung up by magic, two strong bodies of cavalry, whilst behind them, marching as rapidly as our own troops, and in as perfect order, came the men of Arques and Ivry, of Fontaine Francaise, and all the hundred fights of Henry of Navarre.