ke of Guise was
twenty-one. Only the Marshal de Tavannes was of mature age. For the
other conspirators, for the Queen-Mother, for her advisers Retz and
Nevers and Birague, they were Italians; and Italy may answer for them
if Florence, Mantua and Milan care to raise the glove.

To return to our journey. A league from the town we halted at a large
inn, and some of us dismounted. Horses were brought out to fill the
places of those lost or left behind, and Bure had food served to us.
We were famished and exhausted, and ate it ravenously, as if we could
never have enough.

The Vidame sat his horse apart, served by his page, I stole a glance at
him, and it struck me that even on his iron nature the events of the
night had made some impression. I read, or thought I read, in his
countenance, signs of emotions not quite in accordance with what I knew
of him--emotions strange and varied. I could almost have sworn that as
he looked at us a flicker of kindliness lit up his stern and cruel
gloom; I could almost have sworn he smiled with a curious sadness. As
for Louis, riding with a squad who stood in a different part of the
yard, he did not see us; had not yet seen us at all. His side face,
turned towards me, was pale and sad, his manner preoccupied, his mien
rather sorrowful than downcast. He was thinking, I judged, as much of
the many brave men who had yesterday been his friends--companions at
board and play-table--as of his own fate. When we presently, at a
signal from Bure, took to the road again, I asked no permission, but
thrusting my horse forward, rode to his side as he passed through the
gateway.

CHAPTER XI.

A NIGHT OF SORROW.

"Louis! Louis!"

He turned with a start at the sound of my voice, joy and
bewilderment--and no wonder--in his countenance. He had not supposed
us to be within a hundred leagues of him. And lo! here we were, knee
to knee, hand meeting hand in a long grasp, while his eyes, to which
tears sprang unbidden, dwelt on my face as though they could read in it
the features of his sweetheart. Some one had furnished him with a hat,
and enabled him to put his dress in order, and wash his wound, which
was very slight, and these changes had improved his appearance; so that
the shadow of grief and despondency passing for a moment from him in
the joy of seeing me, he looked once more his former self: as he had
looked in the old days at Caylus on his return from hawking, or from
some boyi