turning to the Bailiff--for as such was Lempriere now officially
recognised.

"He is one, sir, that hath suffered for the cause; a Captain in our
Militia, and my brother-in-law."

Alain shot a glance of gratitude at Lempriere, while Haine, laying his
hand upon his shoulder, said in a friendly tone; "I pray you, Captain,
attend me as _aide-de-camp_ until your company be reformed."

Then calling for his horse, he led the party, swollen by the number of
his staff, to the head of the causeway leading to the Castle, "If what I
hear from Captain Le Gallais be correct," he said to his Brigade-Major,
"the Castle will not yield. But send them a trumpet, and let them not
have cause to say the officers of the Commonwealth are unacquainted with
the usages of war."

The trumpeter rode forward to summons the Castle, a white flag flying
from the tube of his instrument. Ere he could reach the gate, a gun
boomed out from the Castle, a round shot whizzed over the heads of the
summoners, and Haine roared at the top of his well-trained voice, "Come
back; it is a sufficient answer."

And so the fiery duet began--the batteries of the Churchyard sounding
daily in harmony with those of the Castle, whilst ever and anon a piece
of greater calibre roared its bass from the Town-hill.

Lempriere made haste to remove his wife and their sister from the noisy
alarms of war to their quiet home at Maufant, where he left them to
remove the traces of the usurper, and restore the old state of things