The next morning, just as they were setting out, a lackey placed a note in Rupert’s hands.

“I hear you are sent off to Lille.  I have a cousin there, and have written to recommend you to his care.  I will keep my promise, and let you know, if needs be, of what is happening to the young person we spoke of—­Diana.”

Rupert wrote a few words of earnest thanks, and imitating the example set him, gave it unaddressed and unsigned to the lackey, with a handsome present to himself.

On the way to Lille, the marquis told Rupert his plans for the withdrawal of Adele from court, and her concealment, should Louis insist on the marriage being pressed on.

Arriving at Lille, Rupert was handed over to the governor, and having formally withdrawn his parole to make no effort to escape, he was assigned quarters in barracks, whence he was allowed to go into the town during daylight; being obliged, however, to attend at roll call at midday.  The fortifications of the town were so strong and well guarded that it was supposed that the chance of escape was small.

The following day the Marquis de Pignerolles took an affectionate leave of Rupert, and went on to join the army; and an hour or two later Captain Louis d’Etamps, the cousin of whom Diana had written, called upon him, and placed himself at his service.  His cousin had told him of the supposed crime for which Rupert had been sent away from court, and felt much sympathy with what she considered his hard treatment.  Not only Louis d’Etamps, but the French officers of the garrison, showed great kindness and attention to the English prisoner, for the Duke of Marlborough had treated the French officers who fell into his hands at Ramilies with such kindness and courtesy, that the French were glad to have an opportunity of reciprocating the treatment when the chance fell in their way.  Late in the autumn, the Marquis de Pignerolles was brought back to Lille seriously wounded in one of the last skirmishes of the campaign.  Rupert spent all the time he was allowed to be out of barracks at his friend’s quarters.  The wound was not considered dangerous, but it would keep the marquis a prisoner to his room for weeks.

A few days after the marquis was brought in, Louis d’Etamps came into Rupert’s room early in the morning.

“I have a note for you from my fair cousin,” he said.  “It must be something particular, for she has sent a special messenger with a letter to me, and on opening it I find only a line asking me to give you the enclosed instantly.”

Rupert opened the latter from Diana d’Etamps; it was as follows: 

“Adele has been ordered to marry the Duc de Carolan on the 15th.  Unless she consents, she is on the 14th to be sent to the nunnery of Saint Marie, the strictest in France, where they will somehow or other wring consent from her before many weeks are over.  They have done so in scores of cases like hers.  I promised to tell you, and I have done so.  But I don’t see that anything can be done.  I hear Monsieur le Marquis is badly wounded, but even were he here, he could do nothing.  The king is resolute.  The Duc de Carolan has just given 200,000 crowns towards the expenses of the war.”