"Well!" said he, "since these drunken scoundrels are upon us, and are coming here to look for meat and drink, what ought we to do ?" The majority of those present were of opinion that the right thing to do was to fall back into the duchy of Luxembourg, there to recruit the enfeebled army.

"Duke Rene," they said, "is poor; he will not be able to bear very long the expense of the war, and his allies will leave him as soon as he has no more money; wait but a little, and success is certain." Charles flew into a passion.

"My father and I," said he, "knew how to thrash these Lorrainers; and we will make them remember it.

By St.George! I will not fly before a boy, before Rend of Vaudemont, who is coming at the head of this scum.

He has not so many men with him as people think; the Germans have no idea of leaving their stoves in winter.