“His Imperial Majesty knows me too well to suppose that I would turn back from danger,” replied Pescara. “But I will not attempt impossibilities. I am not alone in my opinion. Put the question to the other generals. How say you, messeigneurs?” he added to them. “Ought the assault to be made?” “We are all against it,” said Del Vasto, speaking for the others, who bowed assent. “You are all in league to thwart me,” cried Bourbon, furiously. “But I will put you to shame. I will show you that the assault _can_ be made successfully. Go, my lord, if you will,” he added to Pescara. “Your soldiers will follow me.” “Your highness is mistaken,” returned the other. “They will inarch with me to Italy.” Suppressing his rage, Bourbon turned to the German generals. “I shall not, I am sure, lack your aid, messeigneurs,” he said. “You and your brave lanz-knechts will follow me?” “Your highness must hold us excused,” they replied. “Where the Marquis of Pescara declines to go, we are not foolhardy enough to venture.” “You find that I am right,” remarked Pescara, with a mocking laugh. “There is nothing left for it but to raise the siege and depart.” “Depart!--never!” cried Bourbon. “Why, if the assault be not made, the meanest burgess of Marseilles will laugh us to scorn. Let the charge be sounded,” he added to Pomperant. “We shall soon see who will follow me.” “None but your own attendants will follow,” said Pescara. At this moment an esquire approached, and stated that a messenger had just arrived from Aix, bringing most important intelligence. Bourbon immediately ordered the man into his presence. “Highness,” said the messenger, “I have speeded hither to inform you that the king arrived last evening at Aix with the army.” “The king arrived at Aix!” exclaimed Bourbon. “By Sainte Barbe! this is important news indeed, if true.” “It will be speedily confirmed, monseigneur,” said the messenger. “The Marshal de Chabannes is marching with the vanguard of the army to the relief of Marseilles.” Bourbon made no remark, but signed to the messenger to retire. “Your highness must now admit that I gave you good counsel in advising you to abandon the siege,” remarked Pescara. “Out upon your counsel!--it has been ruinous,” cried Bourbon. “The city might have been taken ere Chabannes could come up. But I will forgive you all, if you will march with me at once to meet the king, and compel him to give us battle. A victory will retrieve the disgrace we shall incur by abandoning the siege, and satisfy both the Emperor and the King of England.” “I am against the plan,” rejoined Pescara, coldly. “The king's army is far superior to our own in number and we shall have the forces of the garrison in our rear! No, we must evacuate Provence.”