noon
Thus travelling on with much more harmony than on the preceding day , the little party came at last within two miles of the famous and strong town of Peronne , near which the Duke of Burgundy 's army lay encamped , ready , as was supposed , to invade France , and , in opposition to which , Louis XI had himself assembled a strong force near Saint Maxence , for the purpose of bringing to reason his over powerful vassal . Perrone , situated upon a deep river , in a flat country , and surrounded by strong bulwarks and profound moats , was accounted in ancient as in modern times , one of the strongest fortresses in France . -LSB- Indeed , though lying on an exposed and warlike frontier , it was never taken by an enemy , but preserved the proud name of Peronne la Pucelle , until the Duke of Wellington , a great destroyer of that sort of reputation , took the place in the memorable advance upon Paris in 1815 . S. -RSB- The Count of Crevecoeur , his retinue , and his prisoner , were approaching the fortress about the third hour after noon , when riding through the pleasant glades of a large forest , which then covered the approach to the town on the east side , they were met by two men of rank , as appeared from the number of their attendants , dressed in the habits worn in time of peace , and who , to judge from the falcons which they carried on their wrists , and the number of spaniels and greyhounds led by their followers , were engaged in the amusement of hawking . But on perceiving Crevecoeur , with whose appearance and liveries they were sufficiently intimate , they quitted the search which they were making for a heron along the banks of a long canal , and came galloping towards him . `` News , news , Count of Crevecoeur , '' they cried both together , `` will you give news , or take news ? or will you barter fairly ? ''