ards, there are but six of them,
and you are five-and-twenty, are you such curs that you are afraid to
attack when you are nigh five to one?"

Then, with a hoarse yell the crowd rushed forward. One was struck down
by a heavy cudgel, three fell on the pavement, and another one tottered
back disabled, but others took their places, and for a time the little
band were hardly pressed. The four Scotchmen fought stoutly, but
although fair swordsmen they gained no great advantage over their
opponents until they betook them to their pistols, when several of their
assailants fell, but not without inflicting wounds. Paolo also fought
well, and brought three to the ground. Hector, however, took the
offensive, and before his swift blade, with its deadly thrust, those
opposed to him fell back as one after another dropped dead.

"Down with him! down with him!" the voice shouted; "are ye men thus to
give way before a single blade?"

"And are you a man," Hector shouted back, "to set on others to fight
when you dare not fight yourself? Whoever you are, you are a coward!"

With a fierce oath the man pushed his way through those in front of him
and drew his sword. He threw back his cloak to obtain the full use of
his sword arm, and the rich gold braiding of his doublet confirmed the
opinion Hector had already formed as to his identity.

"That is better, my lord duke; it is at least more honourable to fight
in your own quarrels than to employ a band of assassins to do your
work."

With a roar of fury Beaufort rushed upon him. He was a good swordsman,
and personally brave, but his rage neutralized his skill, and after
parrying two or three of his lunges Hector repeated the thrust with
which he had that morning disabled de Vipont, and ran his assailant
through the shoulder. He fell back with a curse.

"Kill him! kill him!" he shouted. But at that moment there was a cry,
"The watch! the watch!" Four of the fellows caught up the wounded man
and carried him off, some of the others skirmishing with the watch to
hinder their advance.

"To the inn!" Hector cried to his men, "leave the matter to the watch."

And sheathing their weapons they ran on to the door of the hotel and
obtained entry there before the watch came up. As soon as they had
passed Hector said, "Come with me, Paolo, and see the cardinal; there is
no fear of any renewal of the attack now.

"Do you know who it was I wounded, Paolo?" he asked as they hurried
along.

"No,