"Send Captain Cauvignac hither," said Lenet. An instant after, our old acquaintance appeared in the doorway; but, prudent as always, there he halted. "Come hither, captain," said the duke; "I am Monsieur le Duc de La Rochefoucauld." "I know you perfectly well, monseigneur," said Cauvignac. "Ah! so much the better, then. You received a commission to raise a company?" "It is raised." "How many men have you at your disposal?" "A hundred and fifty." "Well armed and equipped?" "Well armed, poorly equipped. I looked out for the weapons first of all, as the most essential thing. As to their equipment, as I am a very disinterested youth, and as I am moved principally by my affection for Messieurs les Princes, I came rather short of money, Monsieur Lenet having given me but ten thousand livres." "You have enrolled a hundred and fifty men with ten thousand livres?" "Yes, monseigneur." "That's a marvellous achievement." "I have methods known to myself alone, monseigneur, to which I have resorted." "Where are your men?" "They are here; you will see a fine company, monseigneur, especially in respect to their morals,--all men of rank; not a single nobody among them." Monsieur de La Rochefoucauld walked to the window, and saw in the street a hundred and fifty individuals of all ages, sizes, and conditions, drawn up in two lines, and kept in place by Ferguzon, Barrabas, Carrotel, and their two colleagues, arrayed in their most magnificent attire. The rank and file resembled a party of bandits much more nearly than a company of soldiers. As Cauvignac had said, they were very much out at elbows, but remarkably well armed. "Have you received any orders concerning the place where your men are to be stationed?" the duke inquired. "I have been ordered to lead them to Vayres, and I am simply awaiting the ratification of that order by Monsieur le Duc to turn over my company to Monsieur Richon, who is expecting its arrival." "But do not you remain at Vayres with them?" "My principles, monseigneur, forbid my ever doing such a foolish thing as to shut myself up within four walls, when I am at liberty to go where I please. I was born to lead the life of the patriarchs." "Very good; go where you choose; but despatch your men to Vayres as soon as possible." "Then they are really to form part of the garrison of that place?" "Yes." "Under Monsieur Richon's orders?" "Yes." "But, monseigneur, what are my men to do in the fort, where there are already about three hundred men?" "You are very inquisitive." "Oh! it's not mere curiosity that makes me ask, monseigneur; it is fear." "What are you afraid of?" "That they will be condemned to inaction, which would be a great pity; any man makes a mistake who allows a good weapon to rust." "Don't be alarmed, captain, they won't rust; in a week they will have a chance to fight." "In that case they may be killed!"