aid. "It is well, indeed, that we
should have with us one so faithful and attached as yourself."

In the hours that passed before nightfall, Philip related to Claire
how Pierre's warnings had excited his uneasiness; and how the
discovery of the chalk marks, on the doors, had confirmed him in
his conviction that some evil was intended; and explained the steps
they had taken for providing for an escape from the city.

"I have been wondering vaguely, Philip," she said, when he had told
the story, "how it was that you should have appeared so suddenly,
and should have a disguise in readiness for me. But how could you
have guessed that I should be ready to go with you?"

And for the first time, a slight tinge of colour came into her
cheeks.

"It was scarcely a guess, Claire. It was rather a despairing hope.
It seemed to me that, amid all this terror and confusion, I might
in some way be able to rescue you; and I made the only preparation
that seemed possible.

"I knew that you were aware that I loved you. When you told me of
your engagement, I felt that you were saying farewell to me. When I
thought of saving you, it was for him and not for myself; for I
knew that you would never oppose your father's wishes. I did not
dream of such a general calamity as it has been. I thought only of
a rising of the mob of Paris, and that perhaps an hour or two in
disguise might be sufficient, until the king's troops restored
order."

"It is very wonderful," Claire said earnestly. "It seems, beyond
all doubt, that it is God Himself who has thus given me to you; and
I will not doubt that, great as the dangers may seem to be before
us, He will lead us safely through them.

"You will make for La Rochelle?"

"Yes. Once there we shall be safe. You may be sure that there, at
least, the cruel orders of the king will be wholly disregarded; as
we may hope they will be, in many other towns in which the
Huguenots are numerous; but at La Rochelle, certainly, were all the
rest of France in flames, the people would remain steadfast.

"But I do not believe that the power of the Huguenots will be
broken. It may be that, in the northern towns, the orders of the
king will be carried out; but from thence we have obtained no aid
in our former struggles. Our strength in the south will still
remain and, though the loss of so many leaders and nobles, here in
Paris, will be a heavy blow, I hope that the cause of the faith
will speedily rally from it and