The night passed quietly.

Just as the sun rose a trumpet sounded, calling for a truce; and two knights in armour rode forward, followed by an esquire carrying a white flag.

They halted thirty or forty yards from the gate; and the countess herself came up on to the wall, when the knight raised his vizor.
"Countess Amelie de Laville, I summon you, in the name of his majesty the king, to surrender.

I have with me an ample force to overcome all resistance; but his gracious majesty, in his clemency, has empowered me to offer to all within the walls their lives; save only that you and your son shall accompany me to Paris, there to be dealt with according to the law, under the accusation of having taken up arms against his most sacred majesty." "Methinks, sir," the countess said, in a loud clear voice, "that it would have been better had you delayed until this morning, instead of attempting, like a band of midnight thieves, to break into my chateau.

I fancy we should have heard but little of his majesty's clemency, had you succeeded in your attempt.