ion for t

over, m

is sword and pistol lay within reach of his hand; he might have killed me without effort, and saved his own life. The thou

d away?" I questioned

st moments were full of peac

advisable to break your fast before start

nnot

y. Pardon me if I s

m, hardly conscious of my presence, unable to detach his thoughts from the sombre picture in the adjoining

made," he re

remarked, pointing to the

red with a mournful smile; "a d

y a general in the armies of the League. All this was well known to me, and yet I could not harden my heart against him. I had meant to denounce him to the

the conclusion that you had come to Rochelle as a spy. You told me your story, and I

ock without words. Renaud L'Estang will

peech; it was but the expression of a

n; but I am regarding you, not as the servant of Anjou but as a tender and loving son. I cannot have on my hands the blood o

imbs trembled, the muscles of his face twitched

prehend. Is it that you give me, Renaud L'Estan

hing, Renaud L'Estang. Some day you may be able to show mercy to one of your foes

y by the bedside. Then, in low, passionate tones, calling on the dead woman by name, he made a solemn vow that, should

said, "but no Huguenot shall ev

abroad, and none presumed to question one of the Admiral's household. My companion fetched

"Here we part; now you must d

d laugh on being told he was at a loss for words; yet it is true. I cannot express

he had ridden some distance I re

" he asked. "We expected you last night, and concluded you must have been detained

tired and wished to sleep; for, though I did not regret

rtion of my thoughts, but as the days pas

tense-the oldest veteran had never known such a keen frost-and much sickness broke out among the troops. The good Admiral tended th

mous, and the prospect became very gloomy. Every one

r Braund, one night when we had all met at m

ed smilingly; "once the campaign begins you

the Admiral, he will be regretting somet

d Roger, glancing at my sister,

nne was blushing furiously, and my comrade's face had lost its merriment; "but,

if those who force us into these cruel war

at the suffering troubles them little

an to thaw, and it was possible for the soldiers to pass the nights in some degree of comfort. Orders were issued to the various leaders, carts w

e. Condé has issued instructions for all his followers to hold themse

attended as usual by the Sieur de Guerchy, ascended the staircase. He glanced round at us with his kindly

to his gentlemen of the bodyguard, I followed him int

n, "and not without experience. He it was who brought the

r!" said De Guerc

am about to send him to Saint Jean d'Angely, and to Cognac," a

is almost as importa

rning to me, he added: "Can you carry

o my best

ns; I shall be ready for y

t of my smiling face, exclaimed: "More good fortune, Edmond? I shall b

r of little imp

y you away fr

orse; our patron is in a hurry," and expecti

it home, though fully expecting to be back in the city within a few da

have already started, and Coligny himself leaves the city before night. So, shoul

ou?" I

march with the troops, or remain

could altogether keep back the tell-tale tears. Still, they were very brave, and when at last I rode off, they stood at t

, exclaimed excitedly: "It has begun, Edmond; we march almost immediately. I

the commandants at Saint Jean d'Angely a

urriedly, anxious to make the most of

time one of them came out, mounted his horse, and galloped off. Presently the door

goulême, unless you meet with us on the way. I need not warn you to be prudent and vigilant, nor remind you that these d

e news of the coming movement had spread throughout the town and the streets were crowded. The excitement was intense, and I wit

flaunting favours bestrode their horses proudly; sturdy foot-soldiers carrying murderous pike or deadly ar

t after a while I left the throng behind, and set my horse into a canter. Now and again I overtook a body of troops, march

usual sounds, and peering into the gloom. I had not forgotten my former adventure, but n

exclaimed the off

, with a despatch f

the Pr

dmiral-it i

aving dismounted, I led my

d a dark rid

is the commandant to be found? He will not feel

he watches; he is going the rounds now, and will be with us in a few minutes. It will need a c

ed beard! A strongly-built man of middle height, with resolute,

, monsieur," I said, salutin

h, folded the paper, and put it away carefully. By his face one cou

Rochelle?" he

idden from the

you ret

I am proceedi

e, and your horse is in l

preparations for a good supper were in progress. Then he said: "You will be starting early in the morning. Ha

I was unaware they had

; "I have sent a courier to Rochelle with the news.

aving to leave it so soon. However, I turned out at the landlord's warning, made another hearty meal-these journeys