you compel us to search you? That is an undignified proceeding, and will
not help you at all."

"No," he agreed gloomily; "I am in your power. But this is a sorry
trick; I would rather you had forced the paper from me at the sword's
point. It would have been more creditable to your honour."

"That may be so, but meanwhile we await the paper."

Finding himself helpless, he handed me the document with the best grace
he could muster, and I immediately placed it inside my doublet.

"Now," I exclaimed cheerfully, "we are in a hurry to reach our comrades,
but we have no wish to ride into the midst of the Duke's troops. In
order to avoid that calamity, we will make you our guide; but pray be
careful, because in the event of a mistake you will be the first victim.
My servant is an old soldier, while I have had some practice with the
pistol. But this is a disagreeable subject; let us dismiss it."

"With all my heart," said he, laughing. "And now what would you have me
do?"

"Put us on the track of our comrades, and prevent us from falling into
the Duke's hands."

"That is," said he, "to return good for evil. Well, 'tis something of a
novelty for me."

"You should practise it more frequently," I laughed, and with that we
rode on, our prisoner being in the middle.