Now I see that what I thought was a loss has turned out a gain." "You do not think Conde will be able to do anything against Paris ?" Philip asked.
"Certainly not at present.

What can some fifteen hundred horsemen and as many infantry (and he will have no more force than that, for another three or four days) do against Paris with its walls and its armed population, and the Guises and their friends and retainers, to say nothing of the six thousand Swiss?
If our leaders thought they were going to fight at once, they would hardly have sent two hundred good troops off in another direction.

I expect we shall have plenty of time to get through this and other expeditions, and then to join the Prince in front of Paris before any serious fighting takes place." "Do you know how far it is across the hills to Orleans ?" Philip asked the gentlemen next to him on the other side.
"It is over fifty miles, but how much more I do not know.

I am a native of the province, but I have never travelled along this road, which can be but little used.

East of Montargis the traffic goes by the great road through Melun to Paris; while the traffic of Orleans, of course, goes north through Etampes." They rode on until noon, and then dismounted by a stream, watered and fed the horses, partook of a meal from the contents of their saddlebags, and then rested for four hours to recruit the strength of their horses.