guard our chief with our own lives!"

We spoke angrily, and many sharp words passed between us, the more fiery
of the speakers upholding Felix, the cooler and wiser ones supporting La
Bonne, and finally it was agreed to despatch a messenger to the king.

"When the troops arrive," said Felix, "we will give them our weapons to
take care of for us!"

I did not hold altogether with my hot-headed comrade, but when in the
course of an hour or two the king's soldiers marched into the street I
began to think we had committed a serious blunder. There were fifty of
them, and at their head marched Cosseins, the Admiral's determined
enemy.

"Faith!" exclaimed Felix, as the soldiers posted themselves in two
houses close at hand, "I have heard that Charles loves a practical joke,
but this must be one of the grimmest that even he has played!"

"He could have bettered it," said Yolet, our beloved chief's trusty
esquire, "only by sending Guise himself!"

Presently a man, threading his way through the crowd in front of the
courtyard, ran up to Carnaton, and whispered something in his ear.

"More bad news?" said I, noticing his look of surprise.

"I fear it is not good at any rate," he replied slowly. "Charles has
sent for Guise to the Louvre."

"Guise at the Louvre!" cried Felix, "and we stay here with our arms
folded! Now this is downright madness!"

"It may be," suggested La Bonne mildly, "that the king wishes to give
him orders not to break the peace."

"It seems to me," said Felix, "that we might employ our time better than
in inventing excuses for our enemies. This visit to the Louvre means
that Charles has gone over to the side of Anjou and Guise."

"It may be so," agreed Carnaton, "but we have no proof."

"Proof!" cried my comrade with a mocking laugh, "it will be sufficient
proof when one of Anjou's troopers runs a sword through your heart!"

Carnaton was about to reply when he was summoned to attend the Admiral,
and we settled down to wait doggedly for the next piece of information.
It was not long in coming. A messenger despatched by La Bonne returned a
few minutes before three o'clock. His face was pale, and he had a
frightened look which was far from reassuring.

"Well?" exclaimed La Bonne, "what news?" "Ill news, monsieur," replied
the man. "Guise has left the Louvre and is in the city. The streets are
crowded and the citizens are wild with excitement. He is stirring them
up against us, and they are cheerin