Louvre, where I will crave the protection of the King and
Queen of Navarre.

"Do not think me ungrateful for what you have done for me. Twice
now you have saved my life, and, and--you understand me, Philip?"

"I do," he said, "and honour your scruples. One of my objects, in
sending Pierre down into the town again, is to learn what has taken
place at the Louvre. It may be that this fiendish massacre has
extended there, and that even the King of Navarre, and the Huguenot
gentlemen with him, have shared the fate of the others. Should it
not be so, it would be best in every way that what you suggest
should be carried out.

"As for the Sieur de Pascal, it may be that the blow, that has
bereft you of your good father, may well have fallen upon him,
also."

"But many will surely escape, as we have done. It cannot be that
all our friends--all those who rode in with the princes--can have
been murdered."

"Some have doubtless escaped; but I fear that the massacre will be
almost universal, for it has evidently been carefully planned and,
once begun, will extend not only to the followers of Navarre, but
to all the Protestants within the walls of Paris."

"Do you know aught concerning the Sieur de Pascal?" Claire asked,
looking up.

Something in the tone of his voice struck her.

"I saw him fall, mademoiselle. He had made for the door of your
house, doubtless with the intention of joining your father in
defending it to the last; but the murderers were already there. He
was attacked on the doorstep, and was surrounded, and well-nigh
spent, when I saw him. I tried to reach him through the crowd but,
before I could do so, he fell.

"Then, seeing that it would be but throwing away my life, and
destroying all chance of saving yours, I hurried away to carry out
the plan I had before formed of making my way along the roofs, and
so entering your house.

"Monsieur de Pascal fell, mademoiselle, as a brave soldier,
fighting against a host of foes, and in defence of yourself and
your father. It was an unfortunate, though noble impulse, that led
him there; for I had rubbed out the mark upon your door that served
as a guide for the soldiers, and you and the count might have
escaped over the roof, before any attack was made, had not his
presence aroused their suspicions."

Claire had hidden her face in her hands, as he began to speak; and
he had kept on talking, in order to give her time to collect her
feelings; but as she was no