Henri; but there are two men from
Echanbroignes here, who wish you to allow them to go on to Durbelliere,
and stay a day or two there: they are two of our men, M. Henri; two of
the red scarfs."
"Two of the red scarfs!" said Henri.
"Yes, M. Henri, two of the men who went through the water, and took the
town; we call ourselves red scarfs, just to distinguish ourselves from
the rest of the army: your honour is a red scarf that is the chief of
the red scarfs; and we expect to be especially under your honour's
protection."
"I am a red scarf, Henri;" said the little Chevalier. "There are just
two hundred of us, and we mean to be the most dare-devil set in the
whole army; won't we make the cowardly blues afraid of the Durbelliere
red scarfs!"
"And who are the two men, Jacques?" said Henri.
"Jean and Peter Stein," said Jacques: "you see, M. Henri, they ran away
to the battle, just in direct opposition to old Michael's positive
orders. You and the Cure must remember how I pledged my honour that they
should be at Saumur, and so they were: but Michael Stein is an awful
black man to deal with when his back is up: he thinks no more of giving
a clout with his hammer, than another man does of a rap with his five
knuckles.
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