on a bench,
and the man then bound his feet as he had before bound his hands. On a
sign from Monsieur de Montresor the man left the room.

"Now listen to me, my friend," said the provost-marshal, toying with the
collar of the Order; for, late as the hour was, he was in full uniform.

This little circumstance gave the young man several thoughts; he saw
that all was not over; on the contrary, it was evidently neither to hang
nor yet to condemn him that he was brought here.

"My friend, you may spare yourself cruel torture by telling me all you
know of the understanding between Monsieur le Prince de Conde and Queen
Catherine. Not only will no harm be done to you, but you shall enter the
service of Monseigneur the lieutenant-general of the kingdom, who
likes intelligent men and on whom your honest face has produced a good
impression. The queen-mother is about to be sent back to Florence, and
Monsieur de Conde will no doubt be brought to trial. Therefore, believe
me, humble folks ought to attach themselves to the great men who are in
power. Tell me all; and you will find your profit in it."

"Alas, monsieur," replied Christophe; "I have nothing to tell. I told
all I know to Messieurs de Guise in the queen's chamber. Chaudieu
persuaded me to put those papers under the eyes of the queen-mother;
assuring me that they concerned the peace of the kingdom."

"You have never seen the Prince de Conde?"

"Never."

Thereupon Monsieur de Montresor left Christophe and went into the
adjoining room; but the youth was not left long alone. The door through
which he had been brought opened and gave entrance to several men, who
did not close it. Sounds that were far from reassuring were heard from
the courtyard; men were bringing wood and machinery, evidently intended
for the punishment of the Reformer's messenger. Christophe's anxiety
soon had matter for reflection in the preparations which were made in
the hall before his eyes.

Two coarse and ill-dressed serving-men obeyed the orders of a stout,
squat, vigorous man, who cast upon Christophe, as he entered, the
glance of a cannibal upon his victim; he looked him over and _estimated_
him,--measuring, like a connoisseur, the strength of his nerves, their
power and their endurance. The man was the executioner of Blois. Coming
and going, his assistants brought in a mattress, several mallets and
wooden wedges, also planks and other articles, the use of which was
not plain, nor their look