human
A poor place, monsieur, he said,
gpt
A cheerful spot, in truth! said St. Georges, with a smile;
human
Les mousquetaires tiraient leur noms de la couleur de leur chevaux.
gpt
Easily. I descended once to Clermont, having bade farewell to my father and intending to join the Regiment de Berri, when, lo! as I entered the town, I saw our _grand seigneur_ of Creuse in talk with an officer of the Mousquetaires Noirs. Then as I saluted him he called out to me: 'Boussac! Boussac! what have you crossed the mountains for and come to Clermont?' '_Pardie!_' I replied, 'monsieur, to seek my fortune as a soldier. I hear there are some of the Regiment of Berri here. And the _arrière-ban_ is out, the summons made.' 'And so it is,' replied the seigneur, 'only the Regiment of Berri is complete, has all its complement. Now, here is the colonel of the mousquetaires; if he would take you, why, your fortune's made. Ask him, Boussac. Ask him.' So, monsieur, I asked him, telling him I could ride any horse; would do so if he brought one; knew the _escrime_--_ma foi!_ many a time had I fenced in the old castle with those of the regiment; was strong and healthy, and, _voilà!_ it was done. Even the Mousquetaires--the king's own guard, the men of the _Maison du Roi_ were recruiting--it needed only that one should be of gentle blood, as the Boussacs are. So, monsieur, I am mousquetaire; have fought when they fight; we, of Ours, were at Mulhausen, Turckheim, and Salzbach----
human
Did you see Turenne killed?
gpt
Nay, not killed, but just before the battle. Ah! he was a soldier! Then he went on with his recollections, finishing up by saying:
human
But, alas! since then the peace has come, and we have naught to do but to dance about the galleries of Versailles and be in attendance on the king and his court. That, he said, patting his horse's coal-black neck,
gpt
It will change ere long, said St. Georges,
human
Let us hope so, monsieur. Peace is no good to us.
gpt
No! peace is no good to us. My only hope is, England may not be drawn into the game.
human
And wherefore, monsieur?
gpt
I am half English--my mother was of that country. To draw a sword against the land that gave her birth would be no pleasure to me.
human
Yet, on the other--and the greater--side, monsieur is French. How should you decide, therefore, if war comes?