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not to consider that more carefully. De Guisnes, who is Poitevin, would not care if the town of Monmouth were burntit is not his landand Henry would not care, either." |
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Richard grasped Bassett's arm and shook it. |
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"Oh, well," Bassett temporized, "he would not care in comparison with taking prisoner or killing you, Pembroke, and you know it. We laid that trap ourselves, for ourselves, and then fell into it. I swear, God must favor our cause. After all our stupidity and carelessness, we have succeeded in decimating the garrison of Monmouth. Oh, sit down, Walter, sit down." |
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Dai brought up a stool, and Walter sank down on it gratefully. "If we have done them so much harm," Walter asked, "could we take the keep before new troops are brought in to replace those killed and wounded?" |
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"That is just what Richard and I have been talking about," Bassett said, and, then smiled. "At least, I have been talking, and Richard has been writing his replies. At first I was of your mind, Walter, but even undermanned it would take more men than we have to break Monmouth. That means Lord Llewelyn's help, and even if he were willing to give it, nearly a week would pass before we could try an assault." |
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"No!" Walter exclaimed. "That is too long. The assault must be launched at oncetonight. Men can come from Goodrich in only a few hours. . . ." He stopped to consider, began to shrug, winced, and remarked, "But likely it is already too late, unless de Guisnes is dead or unconscious and his captains all such fools that they did not send out word of what befell them." |
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"That is what Richard saidwrote," Bassett remarked, and Richard nodded approvingly. "And we cannot stop them," Bassett and continued. "If we set up a siege, they can surround us. We had losses, too, in that battle." |
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Walter did not reply directly. While he had been dressing, Dai had told him that two of his fifty men were dead and another seven injured, two seriously and the others lightly. Since Walter knew his men to be as well trained as any of the others, the damage to the remainder of the force must be at least proportional. That means that eight out of every hundred of Richard's army were useless, either dead or too badly hurt to fight, while another ten out of every hundred would be sore |
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