1633

One of the officers, Henri Laporte, cocked his head. "Is there any point in particular which seems to you of special importance?"

Ture

Most of the officers assembled in the room were cavalrymen. Ture

He hesitated. Ture

He cleared his throat. "Cardinal Richelieu, as you all know, is an extremely astute and wise leader. But he is not a soldier-"

Again, he broke off. That wasn't quite fair, after all. The cardinal had overseen several military campaigns, and from a close distance.

"Even if he were," he added a bit hastily, "he'd be likely to misgauge the situation." Again, he gestured toward the manuscripts. "You'll find a pithy little saying somewhere in those pages, which I was so taken by that I adopted it for my own. 'Generals always plan to fight the last war.' " A soft little chuckle went up from several of the officers.

"In any event, it is my belief that the cardinal is underestimating the effect which the new technology of the Americans is going to have on the tactics and methods used by Gustavus Adolphus." Harshly: "For certain, judging from my one brief meeting with him, Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar will make that mistake."

Most of the officers were now either scowling or wincing, or both. Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar led the mercenary army which controlled Alsace, on the payroll of the French crown. His reputation for arrogance and rudeness had become something of a byword among the officers of the French army, especially the ones who were young or not of noble birth.

"Bernhard, full of vainglory, will go straight at the Swede," predicted Ture

He paused, waiting. Not to his surprise, none of the officers indicated any discomfort at his words. Ture

"Good," he said, nodding. "Robert, would you be so kind as to remain behind?"

It was a clear dismissal. The officers moved over to the sidetable, each taking up one of the manuscripts, and quickly left the room. When they were gone, only Robert du Barry's stack remained.

Ture

"This is more technical in nature, Robert. I put it together as best I could from the material I had available." Quickly, Ture

"I have given you no reason-neither you nor the crown nor the cardinal-to doubt my loyalty. Furthermore-"

"Oh, do be quiet!" snapped Ture

" 'Irrelevant,' I say-except in one respect. Which does not reflect badly upon you in the least." Ture

Du Barry's face was still flushed, but the color was begi

Ture

Ture

A slow smile spread across du Barry's face. "So the cardinal will offer them exile, will he?"

"Exile-and work. And at good wages." Ture

"Ha!" By now, du Barry's flush was back to normal. He only made one last token protest.

"I should not like anyone to think I am flinching from the field of battle."

"Please, Robert! With your reputation?" Du Barry had been one of the only two officers in the room who was well into his thirties. He had quite an impressive record in the various French campaigns since the begi

"And, besides," added Ture

He and du Barry shared a little laugh. Given the warmth of the moment, Ture