o thought of self could turn him aside from his
duty.

His usual attendants were De Guerchy and Des Pruneaux, and with them he
would set out from his residence to transact his business with the king
at the Louvre. But, unknown to him, two of us always went a little
ahead, while two followed closely in the rear. We carefully avoided
drawing attention to ourselves, but our eyes sought every passer-by and
examined every window where an assassin might lurk.

Thus the time passed between hopes and fears. There was little talk now
of the war with Spain, and it began to be understood that the subject
would not be pursued until after the marriage.

Being so fully occupied we saw little of Jeanne during these days, but
one evening Felix and I started to pay her a visit. It was the first
week in August, the day had been hot, and most of the citizens were out
of doors seeking the cool air.

"One minute, monsieur!"

We were at the bottom of the steps in front of the Countess Guichy's
hotel, but, recognizing the voice, I stopped and turned.

"Is it you, L'Estang?" I said.

"Hush! It would be as well to call me D'Angely. You have been followed
here from the Rue de l'Arbre Sec. A strange man, now hiding on the other
side of the road, has been watching you for these two days past. The
populace have no love for a Huguenot gentleman."

"What is the fellow like?" I asked.

"He keeps himself well muffled; he is about your own height and build;
that is all I can discover. But I believe he has been hired by Cordel.
Take care not to expose yourself too freely."

"Many thanks," I said, as he disappeared.

"'Tis almost a pity," exclaimed Felix, "that you interfered with your
peasants. You should have let them rid you of that rascally lawyer while
they were in the mood."

"Nonsense!" I replied, "you are talking wildly. Of course there must be
no word of this to Jeanne."

"I am not likely to alarm her!" he replied, and ran lightly up the
steps.

The ladies were full of the approaching ceremony, and could talk of
nothing but stomachers and brilliants and gold lace and such like stuff,
without which they seemed to imply there could be no wedding at all. The
countess, who had arranged for Jeanne to form one of the young bride's
attendants, had been spending money lavishly on a wonderful dress, and
she declared laughingly that when Henry saw my sister he would wish she
could change places with Margaret; at which Felix remarked it wo