"If I go upon the king's service I cannot be delayed whenever the whim takes you." "I am sorry," answered the other quietly.

"I had something to say to your major, and I thought that maybe I might not see him again." "Well, here are the horses," said the guardsman as he pushed open the postern-gate.

"Have you fed an watered them, Jacques ?" "Yes, my captain," answered the man who stood at their head.
"Boot and saddle, then, friend Green, and we shall not draw rein again until we see the lights of Paris in front of us." The soldier-groom peered through the darkness after them with a sardonic smile upon his face.

"You won't draw rein, won't you ?" he muttered as he turned away.

"Well, we shall see about that, my captain; we shall see about that." For a mile or more the comrades galloped along, neck to neck and knee to knee.