e plunging of my horse which Bure's had frightened--and scrutinized
the last pair of the troop. They were crossing the street in which we
stood, and I had only a side view of them; or rather of the nearer
rider. He was a singularly handsome man, in age about twenty-two or
twenty-three with long lovelocks falling on his lace collar and cloak
of orange silk. His face was sweet and kindly and gracious to a
marvel. But he was a stranger to me.

"I could have sworn," exclaimed Croisette, "that that was Louis
himself--M. de Pavannes!"

"That?" I answered, as we began to move again, the crowd melting
before us. "Oh, dear, no!"

"No! no! The farther man!" he explained.

But I had not been able to get a good look at the farther of the two.
We turned in our saddles and peered after him. His back in the dusk
certainly reminded me of Louis. Bure, however, who said he knew M. de
Pavannes by sight, laughed at the idea. "Your friend," he said, "is a
wider man than that!" And I thought he was right there--but then it
might be the cut of the clothes. "They have been at the Louvre playing
paume, I'll be sworn!" he went on. "So the Admiral must be better.
The one next us was M. de Teligny, the Admiral's son-in-law. And the
other, whom you mean, was the Comte de la Rochefoucault."

We turned as he spoke into a narrow street near the river, and could
see not far from us a mass of dark buildings which Bure told us was the
Louvre--the king's residence. Out of this street we turned into a
short one; and here Bure drew rein and rapped loudly at some heavy
gates. It was so dark that when, these being opened, he led the way
into a courtyard, we could see little more than a tall, sharp-gabled
house, projecting over us against a pale sky; and a group of men and
horses in one corner. Bure spoke to one of the men, and begging us to
dismount, said the footman would show us to M. de Pavannes.

The thought that we were at the end of our long journey, and in time to
warn Louis of his danger, made us forget all our exertions, our fatigue
and stiffness. Gladly throwing the bridles to Jean we ran up the steps
after the servant. The thing was done. Hurrah! the thing was done!

The house--as we passed through a long passage and up some
steps--seemed full of people. We heard voices and the ring of arms
more than once. But our guide, without pausing, led us to a small room
lighted by a hanging lamp. "I will inform M. de Pavannes