A hush and an awe
fell upon all. Instinctively hands drew to sword-hilts. John and Anthony
leaned forward, listening intently, hardly daring to breathe. But the
man who flung the door wide open was the Apostle of Peace himself--even
Professor Anatole Long, Doctor of the Sorbonne.

Having done so, he found himself with his sword-stick bare in one hand,
and a loaded pistol in the other.

CHAPTER XIX.

DEATH WARNINGS

D'Epernon stood at the door.

The splendid favourite of the King of France was attired in a plain,
close-fitting black dress, while a cloak of the like material dropped
from his shoulders. A broad-brimmed hat, high-crowned, and with a
sweeping black feather, was on his head. He held out both hands.

"See, my good Professor," he began, "I am at your martial mercy. I have
come without arms, clothed only with my sole innocence, into this haunt
of heretics. Let me enter. I am, at least, a well-wisher of the white
_panache_, and an old friend of Monsieur Anthony Arpajon there!"

The Professor of Eloquence, though in his heart he liked not the bold
favourite, knew him for a keeper of his word. He stood back and let him
pass within. D'Epernon carefully barred the door behind him, and with a
grand salute strode masterfully into the kitchen of Dame Granier, which
seemed to shrink in size at his entrance.

"Fairer waters than those we are now crossing be to us and to France!"
said the Duke, who loved a sounding phrase. There was a silence in the
kitchen, all wondering what this sudden interruption might mean. "You
are all strangely speechless," continued the Duke.

"We would be glad to know what is your Grace's will with us," said
Jean-aux-Choux; "after that, we will speak as plain as men may!"

"You are, I take it, for the King of France so long as he may live, and
for the Bearnais afterwards?"

"We are of different schools and habits of thought," said Doctor
Anatole, with a certain professional sententiousness, "but you may take
it that on these points we are agreed with my Lord Duke of Epernon!"

"We are all against the League!" said Jean-aux-Choux brusquely.

"I stand by my cousin Henry," said the Abbe John.

"And I keep an open hostelry and a shut mouth!" added Anthony Arpajon.

As for Claire, she said nothing, but only moved a little further into
the shadow. For Dame Granier had thrown a handful of resinous chips on
the fire, which blazed up brightly, at which D'Epernon muttered a curse