I say that, in the first pitched battle you fight with your
forty men, I am very much afraid ---- "

"Therefore I shall fight no pitched battles, my dear
Planchet," said the Gascon, laughing. "We have very fine
examples in antiquity of skillful retreats and marches,
which consisted in avoiding the enemy instead of attacking
them. You should know that, Planchet, you who commanded the
Parisians the day on which they ought to have fought against
the musketeers, and who so well calculated marches and
countermarches, that you never left the Palais Royal."

Planchet could not help laughing. "It is plain," replied he,
"that if your forty men conceal themselves, and are not
unskillful, they may hope not to be beaten: but you propose
obtaining some result, do you not?"

"No doubt. This, then, in my opinion, is the plan to be
proceeded upon in order quickly to replace his majesty
Charles II. on his throne."

"Good!" said Planchet, increasing his attention; "let us see
your plan. But in the first place it seems to me we are
forgetting something."

"What is that?"

"We have set aside the nation, which prefers singing merry
songs to psalms, and the army, which we will not fight: but
the parliament remains, and that seldom sings."