"The palace is not a safe place for you to-night," said L'Estang as he
came to meet me.

"As safe as any part of the city," I answered. "It seems I did well in
taking your advice and sending my sister away. You have heard of this
morning's dastardly crime?"

"All Paris has heard of it," said he; "but pardon me if I say that
to-night's folly will not make the king's task any the easier."

"Surely you do not expect us to see our leader murdered without
protest!" exclaimed Felix.

"Not at all; but there is such a thing as being over hasty. It would
have paid better to show, or to appear to show, some trust in the king."

"Pshaw!" cried my comrade, "for all we know Charles himself is
responsible for the deed!"

"At all events," I said, "the plot must have been known beforehand in
the palace!"

"If you think that, because I warned you to remove your sister from
Paris, you are mistaken. Your surprise this morning was not greater than
my own. I believe that scarcely any one inside the palace knew of what
was going on."

"But you yourself expected trouble of some kind!"

"True; and now I am sure of it. How can it be avoided? Each side is
suspicious of the other: you are angry, and justly angry, at the assault
on your chief, and you threaten vengeance even on the king. I believe
he wishes to be your friend, and you are driving him into the arms of
your enemies. Do you fancy he will care to trust himself in your hands
after to-night's mad freak? But the hour grows late, and the streets are
not safe; I will walk a short distance with you."

"The citizens are still abroad!" I remarked after a time. "Listen! they
are cheering for Guise!"

"And there lies the trouble," he said. "But, monsieur, I have a private
word for you. Etienne Cordel is in Paris; he can read the signs as well
as most men, and if there is a disturbance he will take advantage of it.
You are doubly in danger--first as a Huguenot and a friend of Coligny's;
next as the owner of Le Blanc. You will have to steer skilfully to avoid
both dangers!"

"You speak as if a plot to murder the Huguenots were already afoot."

"I am aware of no plot at present," he said, "but after to-day's unlucky
events one can be sure of nothing. Here is the corner of your street; I
will bid you good-night, and once more I repeat my warning. Guard
yourself, and sleep with your sword at your hand."

CHAPTER XXVI

What will the King do?

The morning of August 23 broke