sometimes took advantage of the night to make expeditions
even as far as the neighborhood of Arras, they determined to
remain in the town until the morrow. The French army held
all between Pont-a-Marc as far as Valenciennes, falling back
upon Douai. The prince was said to be in person at Bethune.
The enemy’s army extended from Cassel to Courtray; and as
there was no species of violence or pillage it did not
commit, the poor people on the frontier quitted their
isolated dwellings and fled for refuge into the strong
cities which held out a shelter to them. Arras was
encumbered with fugitives. An approaching battle was much
spoken of, the prince having manoeuvred, until that
movement, only in order to await a reinforcement that had
just reached him.
The young men congratulated themselves on having arrived so
opportunely. The evening was employed in discussing the war;
the grooms polished their arms; the young men loaded the
pistols in case of a skirmish, and they awoke in despair,
having both dreamed that they had arrived too late to
participate in the battle. In the morning it was rumored
that Prince de Conde had evacuated Bethune and fallen back
on Carvin, leaving, however, a strong garrison in the former
city.
But as there was nothing positively certain in this report,
the young warriors decided to continue their way toward
Bethune, free on the road to diverge to the right and march
to Carvin if necessary.
The count’s tutor was well acquainted with the country; he
consequently proposed to take a crossroad, which lay between
that of Lens and that of Bethune. They obtained information
at Ablain, and a statement of their route was left for
Grimaud. About seven o’clock in the morning they set out. De
Guiche, who was young and impulsive, said to Raoul, “Here we
are, three masters and three servants. Our valets are well
armed and yours seems to be tough enough.”
“I have never seen him put to the test,” replied Raoul, “but
he is a Breton, which promises something.”
“Yes, yes,” resumed De Guiche; “I am sure he can fire a
musket when required. On my side I have two sure men, who
have been in action with my father. We therefore represent
six fighting men; if we should meet a little troop of
enemies, equal or even superior in number to our own, shall
we charge them, Raoul?”
“Certainly, sir,” replied the viscount.
“Holloa! young people — stop there!” said the tutor,
joining in the conversation. “Zounds! how you manoeuvre my
instructions, count! You seem to forget the orders I
received to conduct you safe and sound to his highness the
prince! Once with the army you may be killed at your good
pleasure; but until that time, I warn you that in my
capacity of general of the army I shall order a retreat and
turn my back on the first red coat we come across.” De
Guiche and Raoul glanced at each other, smiling.
Page 213
Dumas, Alexandre – Twenty Years After
They arrived at Ablain without accident. There they inquired
and learned that the prince had in reality quitted Bethune
and stationed himself between Cambria and La Venthie.
Therefore, leaving directions at every place for Grimaud,
they took a crossroad which conducted the little troop by
the bank of a small stream flowing into the Lys. The country
was beautiful, intersected by valleys as green as the
emerald. Here and there they passed little copses crossing
the path which they were following. In anticipation of some
ambuscade in each of these little woods the tutor placed his
two servants at the head of the band, thus forming the
advance guard. Himself and the two young men represented the
body of the army, whilst Olivain, with his rifle upon his
knee and his eyes upon the watch, protected the rear.
They had observed for some time before them, on the horizon,
a rather thick wood; and when they had arrived at a distance
of a hundred steps from it, Monsieur d’Arminges took his
usual precautions and sent on in advance the count’s two
grooms. The servants had just disappeared under the trees,
followed by the tutor, and the young men were laughing and