another man fell.

"Now we are two to two," cried Chicot; "generous young man, you take
one, here is mine," and he rushed on the masked man, who defended
himself as if used to arms.

The young man seized his opponent by the body, threw him down, and bound
him with his belt. Chicot soon wounded his adversary, who was very
corpulent, between the ribs; he fell, and Chicot, putting his foot on
his sword to prevent him from using it, cut the strings of his mask.

"M. de Mayenne! ventre de biche, I thought so," said he.

The duke did not reply; he had fainted from the loss of blood and the
weight of his fall. Chicot drew his dagger, and was about coolly to cut
off his head, when his arm was seized by a grasp of iron, and a voice
said:

"Stay! monsieur; one does not kill a fallen enemy."

"Young man," replied Chicot, "you have saved my life, and I thank you
with all my heart; but accept a little lesson very useful in the time of
moral degradation in which we live. When a man has been attacked three
times in three days--when he has been each time in danger of death--when
his enemies have, without provocation, fired four musket balls at him
from behind--as they might have done to a mad dog--then, young man, he
may do what I am about to do." And Chicot returned to his work.

But the young man stopped him again.

"You shall not do it, while I am here. You shall not shed more of that
blood which is now issuing from the wound you hare already inflicted."

"Bah! do you know this wretch?"

"That wretch is M. le Duc de Mayenne, a prince equal in rank to many
kings."

"All the more reason. And who are you?"

"He who has saved your life, monsieur."

"And who, if I do not deceive myself, brought me a letter from the king
three days ago."

"Precisely."

"Then you are in the king's service?"

"I have that honor."

"And yet you save M. de Mayenne? Permit me to tell you, monsieur, that
that is not being a good servant."

"I think differently."

"Well, perhaps you are right. What is your name?"

"Ernanton de Carmainges."

"Well, M. Ernanton, what are we to do with this great carcase?"

"I will watch over M. de Mayenne, monsieur."

"And his follower, who is listening there?"

"The poor devil hears nothing; I have bound him too tightly, and he has
fainted."

"M. de Carmainges, you have saved my life to-day, but you endanger it
furiously for the future."

"I do my duty to-day; God will provide for the future."