ered so hurriedly that more than one smiled. He had
the bearing of a lay clerk of some precinct, a verger or sacristan; and
after a fashion the dress of one also, for he was in dusty black and wore
no sword, though he was girded with a belt. "No!" he repeated, "but if
Madame will come to the gate, and speak to me--"

"Madame has other fish to fry," Carlat blurted out. "Do you think that
she has naught to do but listen to messages from a gang of bandits?"

"If she does not listen she will repent it all her life!" the fellow
answered hardily. "That is part of my message."

There was a pause while La Tribe considered the matter. In the end,
"From whom do you come?" he asked.

"From His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor of Saumur," the envoy
answered glibly, "and from my Lord Bishop of Angers, him assisting by his
Vicar; and from others gathered lawfully, who will as lawfully depart if
their terms are accepted. Also from M. de Tignonville, a gentleman, I am
told, of these parts, now in their hands and adjudged to die at sunset
this day if the terms I bring be not accepted."

There was a long silence on the gate. The men looked down fixedly; not a
feature of one of them moved, for no one was surprised. "Wherefore is he
to die?" La Tribe asked at last.

"For good cause shown."

"Wherefore?"

"He is a Huguenot."

The minister nodded. "And the terms?" Carlat muttered.

"Ay, the terms!" La Tribe repeated, nodding afresh. "What are they?"

"They are for Madame's ear only," the messenger made answer.

"Then they will not reach it!" Carlat broke forth in wrath. "So much for
that! And for yourself, see you go quickly before we make a target of
you!"

"Very well, I go," the envoy answered sullenly. "But--"

"But what?" La Tribe cried, gripping Carlat's shoulder to quiet him. "But
what? Say what you have to say, man! Speak out, and have done with it!'

"I will say it to her and to no other."

"Then you will not say it!" Carlat cried again. "For you will not see
her. So you may go. And the black fever in your vitals."

"Ay, go!" La Tribe added more quietly.

The man turned away with a shrug of the shoulders, and moved off a dozen
paces, watched by all on the gate with the same fixed attention. But
presently he paused; he returned.

"Very well," he said, looking up with an ill grace. "I will do my office
here, if I cannot come to her. But I hold also a letter from M. de
Tignonville, and that