Next to the Admiral himself, and his brother D'Andelot, there was no officer more highly thought of by the troops.
"This is certainly a bold enterprise that he has undertaken now, if it be true what I have heard, since we halted, that we are going to make a dash at Orleans.

It is a big city for two hundred men to capture; even though, no doubt, we have numbers of friends within the walls." "All the more glory and credit to us, Montpace," Francois said gaily.

"Why, the news that Orleans is captured will send a thrill through France, and will everywhere encourage our friends to rise against our oppressors.

We are sure to take them by surprise, for they will believe that all the Huguenots in this part of France are hastening to join the Prince before Paris." At four o'clock the party got in motion again and, an hour after dark, entered a little village among the hills, about five miles north of the town.

De la Noue at once placed a cordon of sentries, with orders that neither man, woman, nor child was to be allowed to leave it.