"I should be false to my honor and to my duty as a soldier," was Pardaillan's reply. "Besides, it is better that I should not be able to do it. My two lieutenants received Monsieur de Guise's orders as well as myself, and they would interfere to prevent my running counter to them. No; my only hope is that La Renaudie will consent to surrender, and a faint hope it is; for he is as proud as Lucifer, and as brave as a lion. Moreover, he has an opportunity to fight, and will not be taken by surprise, as Castelnau was; and again, we are not very superior to him in point of numbers. However, you will assist me, will you not, Monsieur de Montgommery, in urging him to yield?" "Alas!" said Gabriel, with a sigh, "I will do my best." "The Devil take these civil wars!" cried Pardaillan, in conclusion. They rode along in silence for almost ten minutes. When they had taken the second path to the left, Pardaillan said,-- "Now we should be approaching them. How my heart beats! For the first time in my life, I believe, as God hears me, that I am afraid." The royal troops were no longer laughing and talking, but advanced slowly and cautiously. They had not gone two hundred paces, when they thought they could see through a thicket of trees the glistening of weapons upon a path, which ran parallel with the main road. Their uncertainty was not of long duration, for almost immediately a firm voice cried out,-- "Halt! Who goes there?" "It is La Renaudie's voice," Pardaillan said to Gabriel. Then he replied to the challenge,-- "Valois and Lorraine!" Instantly, La Renaudie on horseback, followed by his little band, debouched from the bypath. However, he ordered his troops to halt, and rode forward a few steps alone. Pardaillan imitated him by crying to his people, "Halt!" and riding toward him accompanied only by Gabriel. One would have said they were two friends in haste to meet after a long separation, rather than two foes ready to meet in deadly conflict. "I should have already replied to you as I ought," said La Renaudie, as he approached, "if I had not thought that I recognized the voice of a friend. Unless I am greatly mistaken, that visor conceals the features of my dear Pardaillan." "Yes, it is I, my poor La Renaudie," replied Pardaillan; "and if I may give you a brother's advice, it is to abandon your enterprise, dear friend, and lay down your arms at once." "Oh, yes! that is indeed brotherly advice!" retorted La Renaudie, ironically. "Yes, Monsieur de la Renaudie," interposed Gabriel, coming forward, "it is the advice of a loyal friend, I bear you witness. Castelnau surrendered to the Duc de Nemours this morning; and if you do not follow his example, you are lost." "Aha, Monsieur de Montgommery!" exclaimed La Renaudie, "are you with these fellows?" "I am neither with them nor with yourself," said Gabriel, in a grave and melancholy tone. "I stand between you."