ing it that of a man of
consequence. His letter congratulated the defeated Villars upon having
such chivalric friends.

It was poor Jerome, and no one knew him then. He rests now with his
fathers.

I loved the lad truly. As knightly a gentleman as ever died for his
King, or lied for his lady.

CHAPTER XIX

THE CASTLE OF CARTILLON

Two days, four, passed. Serigny had departed for Dieppe to arm and
equip le Dauphin, yet still there was no official declaration of war.
I was waiting, as he had ordered, for the formal declaration, on the
publication of which I was to join him on board at once and we would
set sail instantly for Biloxi.

Another anxious day, during which I vacillated between an ignoble love
and a noble duty. Then, late in the evening, the whole court was
fanned into a blaze destined to spread throughout Europe and America,
by the announcement that the war had been formally decided upon.

Men may long look forward to a crushing calamity, and when it comes be
surprised and unprepared. So, though I well knew I must leave France
with all speed, and possibly never see her shores again, I put it from
me as persistently as men do the certainty of death. Every day did I
ride to Sceaux, by the old wall, and catch a glimpse of her I loved.
When war was at last declared there was no time for parleying with
duty. My path lay straight and clear before me; yet for once a
soldier's duty and a soldier's adventure gave me no pleasure. All my
thoughts were otherwhere.

Hot-foot to Sceaux again I rode on my way to Dieppe, and from the same
embrasure at the wall where my horses had trampled down the foliage
many times, I watched her coming. It was not for long. More hurriedly
than was her custom she glided, a glorified young creature, in and out
amongst the shrubbery, until the envious chapel door hid her from my
sight. No living thing was in view. The sound of no discordant voice
broke the holy peace of God. Temptation came never to our first erring
mother in more insidious guise than this.

Where was the harm, I reasoned, it was but for an instant's speech with
her, ere the bounding seas would roll between us. So with nervous
haste I tumbled from my horse and tethered him stoutly to a tree. Over
the wall and to the chapel door took another instant, and there,
inside, at the rail, she knelt. I paused, as a sinner might,
hesitating to mar with heart profane the devotions of a saint. My foot
s