I have important
news.--D'ANGELY."

"Are you sure this is not a second invitation from the lawyer?" my
comrade asked.

"It appears to be L'Estang's handwriting."

"So did the other note."

"True, but Etienne Cordel would not bait a trap for you. He bears you no
grudge, and besides you would only be in his way!"

"Yes," said my comrade, "there is something in that. Will you go?"

"Why not? We may learn something that will be useful to our chief.
L'Estang wishes me well, and in order to save my life he may be tempted
to disclose what he knows of Guise's conspiracy; for I feel sure there
is one."

"If it will serve the Admiral," said Felix hesitatingly.

"It may. I cannot tell, but it is worth running a little risk to
discover."

"He has chosen an odd time and an odd place."

"He cannot meet us in broad day, and a thousand causes may prevent him
from coming to this quarter. You must remember he is Anjou's servant,
and he will not wish to draw suspicion upon himself."

"Very well," said my comrade, "we will go. Carnaton and La Bonne are on
duty to-night."

As the evening closed in the streets began to empty; our comrades went
off to their lodgings, and by nine o'clock there were few of us left in
the _hotel_. Teligny and De Guerchy were in the sick-room, and with them
Pare, the surgeon, and the Admiral's chaplain, Pastor Merlin; Carnaton
and La Bonne dozed in the ante-chamber, while Yolet was posting the five
Switzers who formed part of Navarre's bodyguard.

"It seems as if we shall have a quiet night, Yolet," I remarked.

"The danger has blown over," he answered. "Charles was frightened into
believing we intended to murder him, but the King of Navarre has opened
his eyes. The real plotters will have an unwelcome surprise in a day or
two. I heard De Guerchy telling the Admiral."

"Oh," said I, quite relieved by this information, "if the king keeps
firm, we have nothing to fear."

"Trusting to the king," remarked my comrade, who always spoke of
Charles as a puppet in the hands of his mother and brother, "is trusting
to a broken reed. For my part I hope the instant our chief is strong
enough to travel he will hasten to Rochelle. I have more faith in a keen
blade than in a king's promise," and from Yolet's face one would have
judged he was of the same opinion.

About a quarter before midnight he came with us to open the front gate,
and to fasten it after our departure. We had told him something of our
e