loose in the valley, and to remove those
of Bruhl's party to a safe distance from the castle. I also blocked up
the lower part of the door leading into the courtyard, and named four
men to remain under arms beside it, that we might not be taken by
surprise; an event of which I had the less fear, however, since the
enemy were now reduced to eight swords, and could only escape, as we
could only enter, through this doorway. I was still busied with these
arrangements when M. d'Agen joined me, and I broke off to compliment him
on his courage, acknowledging in particular the service he had done me
personally. The heat of the conflict had melted the young man's reserve,
and flushed his face with pride; but as he listened to me he gradually
froze again, and when I ended he regarded me with the same cold
hostility.

'I am obliged to you,' he said, bowing. 'But may I ask what next, M. de
Marsac?'

'We have no choice,' I answered. 'We can only starve them out.'

'But the ladies?' he said, starting slightly. 'What of them?'

'They will suffer less than the men,' I replied. 'Trust me, the latter
will not bear starving long.'

He seemed surprised, but I explained that with our small numbers we
could not hope to storm the tower, and might think ourselves fortunate
that we now had the enemy cooped up where he could not escape, and must
eventually surrender.

'Ay, but in the meantime how will you ensure the women against
violence?' he asked, with an air which showed he was far from satisfied.

'I will see to that when Maignan comes back,' I answered pretty
confidently.

The equerry appeared in a moment with the assurance that egress from the
farther side of the tower was impossible. I bade him nevertheless keep
a horseman moving round the hill, that we might have intelligence of
any attempt. The order was scarcely given when a man--one of those I had
left on guard at the door of the courtyard--came to tell me that Fresnoy
desired to speak with me on behalf of M. de Bruhl.

'Where is he?' I asked.

'At the inner door with a flag of truce,' was the answer.

'Tell him, then,' I said, without offering to move, 'that I will
communicate with no one except his leader, M. de Bruhl. And add this,
my friend,' I continued. 'Say it aloud that if the ladies whom he has
in charge are injured by so much as a hair, I will hang every man within
these walls, from M. de Bruhl to the youngest lackey.' And I added a
solemn oath to that effect