St. Martin's Summer by Rafael Sabatini, Fiction, Literary - Tapa dura

To promise rashly, particularly where a woman is the suppliant, and afterwards, if not positively to repent the promise, at least to regret that one did not hedge it with a few conditions, is a proceeding not uncommon to youth. In a man of advanced age, such as Monsieur de Tressan, it never should have place. But happened it had, and what was Tressan to do? He blundered headlong into the necessary first step towards the fulfillment of his purpose. If the king was to call upon his troops to put down the object of his heart's desire, well, he would arrange it that he had no troops to offer. "Captain," said he, looking mighty grave, "I have cause to believe that all is not as it should be in the hills in the district of Montelimar." "Is there trouble, monsieur?" inquired the captain, startled. "Maybe there is, maybe there is not," returned the Seneschal mysteriously. "You shall have your full orders in the morning. Meanwhile, make ready to repair to the neighborhood of Montelimar tomorrow with a couple of hundred men." (Jacketless library hardcover.)