fficer, with a humorous twinkle, "that
your friend's residence is not far from the _Hotel Coligny_! Have you
borne arms, monsieur?"

"I fought at Arnay-le-Duc," I replied, feeling sure that my questioner
had already set me down in his own mind as a Huguenot.

"I was there, too," he said, "but I'll wager we were not on the same
side. However, those days are gone, and we may yet have a chance of
fighting under the same flag!" to which I replied that nothing would
give the members of our party more pleasure.

Having conducted me to the corner of the street and pointed out
Coligny's house he took his leave, with a cheery hope that I should find
my stay in town pleasant.

The Admiral was absent, but the house was occupied by several of his
gentlemen, who gave me a hearty welcome. Felix was somewhere in the town
on business, one said, not unconnected with my family, at which the
others laughed.

He came in about an hour later, when I learned he had been spending the
evening with the Countess Guichy, at whose house my sister was staying.

"The countess, my dear Edmond," said he, "is a relative of mine. She
does not belong to the Religion, but she is a worthy soul, and when
Queen Joan died and everything was in confusion, I persuaded your sister
to go to her until she could consult you as to her future."

"That was like your kind heart, Felix; you have ever been a good friend
to both of us. I had not thought how awkwardly Jeanne would be placed
by the queen's death."

"There is no need to thank me," he replied, "I have done the countess a
favour. Your sister has won her heart already, though to be sure there
is no miracle in that. They called her the Queen of Hearts at Blois. I
must take you to see her in the morning. Did Jacques come with you?"

"Yes, he is making himself at home with some of his old acquaintances;
but where is the Admiral?"

"At Fontainebleau with the king. Everything is settled; Henry comes to
Paris in a week or two, and there is to be a grand wedding. Our
opponents are furious, but helpless. There is only one thing I dread."

"What is that?" I asked, rather taken aback by the sudden serious look
on his face.

"There are ugly rumours about, Edmond. It is whispered that Guise has
sworn to take our patron's life. Coligny has received a dozen warnings,
but he is too fearless to notice them. He shrugs his shoulders and says
'It would be better to die a hundred times than to live in constant
fear.