by Alexandre Dumas

“ The hostile army had disappeared two days before and seemed to have gone out of existence.
Now an enemy is never so near and consequently so threatening, as when he has completely disappeared. The prince was, therefore, contrary to his custom, gloomy and anxious, when an officer entered and announced to Marshal de Grammont that some one wished to see him. ”

“ When he reached the threshold of the door the prisoner stopped. The soldiers, who knew only their orders, attempted to force him along.
"One moment," said the prisoner, in French. "I am ready to speak, my lord."
"Ah! ah!" said the prince, laughing, "I thought we should come to that. I have a sure method of limbering tongues. Young men, take advantage of it against the time when you may be in command."
"But on condition," continued the prisoner, "that your highness will swear that my life shall be safe." ”

“ Presently the army came in sight of Lens; two or three houses were in flames and a dull noise was heard which indicated what suffering was endured by a town taken by assault.
The prince assigned to every one his post. Marshal de Grammont was to hold the extreme left, resting on Mericourt. The Duc de Chatillon commanded the centre. Finally, the prince led the right wing, resting on Aunay. The order of battle on the morrow was to be that of the positions taken in the evening. Each one, on awaking, would find himself on the field of battle. ”

“ With a single glance the prince took in the extent of country that lay before him, from Lens as far as Vimy. In a moment the plan of the battle which on the following day was to save France the second time from invasion was unrolled in his mind. He took a pencil, tore a page from his tablets and wrote:
My Dear Marshal, - In an hour Lens will be in the enemy's possession. Come and rejoin me; bring with you the whole army. I shall be at Vendin to place it in position. To-morrow we shall retake Lens and beat the enemy."
Then, turning toward Raoul: "Go, monsieur," he said ”

“ Twenty guards, well mounted, are all that I shall need for my escort."
"That is very few," said the marshal.
"It is enough," replied the prince. "Have you a good horse, Monsieur de Bragelonne?"
"My horse was killed this morning, my lord, and I am mounted provisionally on my lackey's."
"Choose for yourself in my stables the horse you like best. No false modesty; take the best horse you can find. You will need it this evening, perhaps; you will certainly need it to-morrow."
Raoul didn't wait to be told twice ”