of a young noble, who rode hither from Navarre and was
sailing for England. I imagine he bore despatches from the queen to
her majesty of England. He had been set upon by robbers on the way.
They took everything he possessed, and held him prisoner, doubtless
meaning to get a ransom for him; but he managed to slip off while
they slept, and to mount his horse, with which he easily left the
varlets behind, although they chased him for some distance. So when
he came here, he offered to sell his horse to obtain an outfit and
money for his voyage; and the landlord of the inn, who is a friend
of mine, knowing that I had been inquiring for a good animal,
brought him to me, and we soon struck a bargain."

"It was hard on him to lose his horse in that fashion," Philip
said; "and I am sorry for it, though I may be the gainer thereby."

"He did not seem to mind much," the merchant said. "Horses are good
and abundant in Navarre, and when I said I did not like to take
advantage of his strait, he only laughed and said he had three or
four others as good at home. He did say, though, that he would like
to know if it was to be in good hands. I assured him that on that
ground he need not fear; for that I had bought it for a young
gentleman, nearly related to the Countess de Laville. He said that
was well, and seemed glad, indeed, that it was not to be ridden by
one of the brigands into whose hands he fell."

"And the men. Are they trustworthy fellows?"

"They are stout men-at-arms. They are Gascons all, and rode behind
Coligny in the war, and according to their own account performed
wonders; but as Gascons are given to boasting, I paid not much heed
to that. However, they were recommended to me by a friend, a large
wine grower, for whom they have been working for the last two
years. He says they are honest and industrious, and they are
leaving him only because they are anxious for a change and, deeming
that troubles were again approaching, wanted to enter the service
of some Huguenot lord who would be likely to take the field. He was
lamenting the fact to me, when I said that it seemed to me they
were just the men I was in search of; and I accordingly saw them,
and engaged them on the understanding that, at the end of a month,
you should be free to discharge them if you were not satisfied with
them; and that equally they could leave your service, if they did
not find it suit.

"They have arms, of course, and such armour as they nee