Meanwhile Madame de Cambes, with pale and serious face, drew the attention of many in the crowd as she walked along behind Madame la Princesse. As she reflected upon the glorious success of the day, she could not avoid the fear that it might bring forgetfulness of the resolution of the preceding day. She was walking along, as we have said, hustled and crowded by the adoring people, inundated with flowers and respectful caresses, shuddering with the fear of being taken up and carried in triumph, a fate with which some voices began to threaten Madame la Princesse, the Duc d'Enghien, and their suite, when Lenet noticed her embarrassment, and gave her his hand to assist her in reaching a carriage. "Ah! Monsieur Lenet, you are very fortunate," she said to him, replying to her own thought. "You succeed always in enforcing your opinion, and your advice is always followed. To be sure," she added, "it is always good, and the best results--" "It seems to me, madame," rejoined Lenet, "that you have no reason to complain, as the only suggestion you have made has been adopted." "How so?" "Wasn't it agreed that you should try to take Île Saint-Georges?" "Yes, but when shall I be allowed to open my campaign?" "To-morrow, if you promise to fail." "Never fear; I am only too likely to fulfil your wishes in that regard." "So much the better." "I do not fully understand you." "We need to have Île Saint-Georges make a stubborn resistance, in order to induce the Bordelais to call for our two dukes and their army, who, I am free to say, although my opinion on that point comes dangerously near coinciding with Madame de Tourville's, seem to me eminently necessary under present circumstances." "Unquestionably," said Claire; "but although I am not as learned in the art of war as Madame de Tourville, I had the impression that a place is not usually attacked until it has been summoned to surrender." "What you say is perfectly true." "Then you will send a flag of truce to Île Saint-Georges?" "Most certainly!" "Very well! I ask leave to carry the flag of truce." Lenet's eyes dilated in surprise. "You!" he said; "you! Why, have all our ladies become Amazons?" "Gratify my whim, dear Monsieur Lenet." "To be sure. The worst that can happen to us would be your taking Saint-Georges." "It's agreed, then?" "Yes." "But promise me one thing." "What is that?" "That no one shall know the name or sex or rank of the flag of truce, unless her mission is successful." "Agreed," said Lenet, giving Madame de Cambes his hand. "When shall I start?" "When you choose." "To-morrow." "To-morrow let it be."