He was greeted warmly by several of the gentlemen who had stopped at the chateau, a few days before.
The story of the fugitives from Niort had already spread through the town, and Philip was eagerly questioned about it.

Just as he was about to tell the story, Conde and the Admiral came out, from an inner room, into the large anteroom where they were talking.
"Ah! Here is the young count's cousin, Monsieur Fletcher," the Admiral said.

"Now we shall hear about this affair of Niort, of which we have received half a dozen different versions, in the last hour.

Is the count himself here ?" "No, sir.

He returned to Laville, escorting the fugitives who went thither; while he sent me, with the larger portion of the troop, to protect the passage hither of the main body." "But it was reported to me that the troop with which you entered was but forty strong.