“I doubt it,” remarked the Comte de Saint-Pol. “Our supplies from the Lomellino will be cut off, and the country around Novara, as you know, has been laid waste.” “Tête-Dieu! we will get supplies from the foe,” cried Bayard. “Our condition is not so desperate as you suppose. If the enemy are two to one, what matters it?” “If we were all Bayards it would matter little if they were ten to one,” rejoined Saint-Pol. “But our men are disheartened. Of late, we have had nothing but ill success. You yourself have been worsted.” “True,” replied Bayard, in a sombre tone, as he thought of the affair of Robecco. “You have seen your countrymen, Captain Diesbach,” said De Lorges to that officer. “Do they refuse to join us?” “Absolutely,” replied Diesbach, “unless they receive their pay. They are inflexible. They declare the King of France has broken faith with them in not sending the Duc de Longueville with an escort of cavalry to meet them at Ivry, and that they will not fight for him.” “Let the vile mercenaries go! We can do without them,” cried Beauvais. “Mercenaries they may be, but they have good ground of complaint,” rejoined Diesbach, angrily. “They have been brought hither by promises that have not been kept. My own men declare that, unless they receive their pay, they will at once disband, and return with their countrymen who are waiting for them at Gattinara. The Swiss will not fight for mere glory.” “But you have sufficient influence over your men to quiet their murmurs, and prevent them from disbanding, Captain Diesbach,” said Bonnivet. “Give them the positive assurance from me that they _shall_ be paid--speedily paid.” “Promises will not content them, my lord,” replied Diesbach. “I must have something in hand.” “You ask an impossibility, captain,” replied Bonnivet. “My coffers are quite empty.” “Quite empty!” exclaimed Diesbach. “A month ago you promised me ten thousand ducats.” “Very true, captain. But the whole of the money is gone. I have had a heavy ransom to pay.” “Whose ransom, my lord, may I make bold to inquire?” said Diesbach. “Ask the Duke of Milan,” replied Bonnivet. “My coffers are empty, I repeat. But all arrears shall be fully paid--as soon as I receive the expected supplies from France.” “I will tell my soldiers what you say, my lord,” returned Diesbach. “But I know what their answer will be. They will laugh in my face, disband, and cross the Sesia to join their comrades. If such should be the case, I must perforce accompany them.” “I shall not hinder you, captain,” said Bonnivet. “Dissuade them, if you can--if not, adieu!” “It pains me to separate from you thus, my brave companions in arms, but there is no help for it,” rejoined Diesbach. And bowing to the Admiral and the assembled leaders, who returned his salutation coldly, he quitted the tent. “By this desertion of the Swiss we shall lose five thousand auxiliaries,” said Bonnivet. “Nothing is left but retreat.”