Many of the peasants had started from Saumur, before their party, and the whole road from that town through Dou and Vihiers to Durbelliere, was thronged with crowds of these successful warriors, returning to their families, anxious to tell to their wives and sweethearts the feats they had accomplished.
They were within a league of Durbelliere, and had reached a point where a cross-road led from the one they were on to the village of Echanbroignes, and at this place many of the cortege, which was now pretty numerous, turned off towards their own homes.
"M.

Henri," said Chapeau, riding up to his master, from among two or three peasants, who had been walking for some time by his horse's side, and anxiously talking to him, "M.

Henri ?" "Well, Jacques; what is it now ?" said Henri.
"I have a favour to ask of Monsieur." "A favour, Chapeau; I suppose you want to go to Echanbroignes already, to tell Michael Stein's pretty daughter, of all the gallant things you did at Saumur." "Not till I have waited on you and M.de Lescure to the chateau.

Momont would be dying if he had not some one to give him a true account of what has been done, and I do not know that any one could give him a much better history of it, than myself--of course not meaning such as you and M.de Lescure, who saw more of the fighting than any one else; but then you know, M.Henri, you will have too much to do, and too much to say to the Marquis, and to Mademoiselle, to be talking to an old man like Momont." "Never fear, Chapeau.

You shall have Momont's ears all to yourself; but what is it you do want ?" "Why, nothing myself exactly, M.Henri; but there are two men from Echanbroignes here, who wish you to allow them to go on to Durbelliere, and stay a day or two there: they are two of our men, M.Henri; two of the red scarfs." "Two of the red scarfs!" said Henri.
"Yes, M.Henri, two of the men who went through the water, and took the town; we call ourselves red scarfs, just to distinguish ourselves from the rest of the army: your honour is a red scarf that is the chief of the red scarfs; and we expect to be especially under your honour's protection." "I am a red scarf, Henri;" said the little Chevalier.