ore the mercy of God--to rise and follow him. A horse
stood saddled at the door, upon which Regnier was told to mount. In his
enemy's train he rode unharmed through the streets of Paris, then through
the gates of the city. Still Vezins, without vouchsafing a word of
explanation, kept on his way toward Cahors, the capital of Quercy, whither
he had been despatched by the government.[1039] For many successive days
the journey lasted. The prisoner was well guarded, but he was also well
lodged and fed. At last the party reached the very castle of Regnier, and
here his captor broke the long silence. "As you have seen," said he, "it
would have depended only on myself to take advantage of the opportunity
which I have long been seeking; but I should be ashamed to avenge myself
in this way upon a man so brave as you. In settling our quarrel I desire
that the danger shall be equal. Be well assured that you will find me as
ready to decide our dispute in a manner becoming gentlemen, as I have been
eager to save you from inevitable destruction." It need scarcely be said
that the Huguenot could not find words sufficiently strong to express his
gratitude; but Vezins merely replied: "I leave it to you to choose whether
you wish me to be your friend or your enemy; I saved your life only to
enable you to make your election." With these words he abruptly left him
and rode away, nor would he ever consent even to take back the horse upon
which he had brought Regnier in safety so many leagues.[1040]

[Sidenote: Escape of Montgomery and Chartres.]

[Sidenote: Charles himself fires at them from the Louvre.]

A number of the Huguenot noblemen were lodged on the southern side of the
Seine, outside of the walls, in the Faubourg Saint Germain. Count
Montgomery, the Vidame of Chartres, Beauvoir la Nocle, and Frontenay, a
member of the powerful Rohan family, were among the most distinguished.
After the admiral, there were certainly no Huguenots whom Catharine was
more anxious to destroy than Montgomery and Chartres. Accordingly the
massacre, which began near the Louvre, was to have been executed
simultaneously upon them, and the work was intrusted to M. de Maugiron.
But the delay of the Roman Catholics saved them. Marcel, the former prevot
des marchands, who had been instructed to furnish one thousand men, was
not ready in time; and Dumas, who was to have acted as guide, overslept
the appointed hour. About five o'clock in the morning a Huguenot succe