"And you, Madame, to the rear quickly, and the women with you! Now, men, forward, and draw! Steady! Steady! They are coming!" There was an instant of confusion, disorder, panic; horses jostling one another, women screaming and clutching at men, men shaking them off and forcing their way to the van.

Fortunately the enemy did not fall on at once, as Badelon expected, but after showing themselves in the mouth of the valley, at a distance of three hundred paces, hung for some reason irresolute.

This gave Badelon time to array his seven swords in front; but real resistance was out of the question, as he knew.

And to none seemed less in question than to Tignonville.
When the truth, and what he had done, broke on the young man, he sat a moment motionless with horror.

It was only when Badelon had twice summoned him with opprobrious words that he awoke to the relief of action.