"There is some terrible business on hand!" said he. "What can it mean?"

"Let us wait here; we may discover the secret."

"Yes," he answered bitterly, "when it is too late! We have all been
blind fools, Edmond, from Navarre downwards. Ah, they are coming
out--horse and foot."

It was too dark for us to distinguish them closely, but we could make
out a group of officers riding a little ahead, a number of troopers, and
two or three score foot-soldiers. They proceeded at a walking pace,
making scarcely any sound.

"Let us follow," whispered Felix, and he was in such a restless state
that, although unwilling to leave without having met L'Estang, I offered
no objection.

Silently, and keeping well in the shadow of the houses, we stole after
them, creeping like unquiet spirits through the streets of the sleeping
city. At first we imagined they were going to the _Hotel de Guise_, and
it was only on entering the Rue des Fosses de St. Germain that the
dreadful truth flashed across our minds.

"They are going to murder the Admiral!" whispered my comrade with a
groan. "Edmond, can we do nothing? Is there no way of warning La Bonne?"

"I fear not, we cannot get past the troops."

Even had that been possible it would have proved of but little service.
The leaders quickened their pace; the whole body swept round the corner;
they were in front of the building; only by the roof could any one
escape; and the Admiral, alas! could not walk even across his chamber.

The blood ran cold in my veins; it seemed as if my heart had ceased to
beat. Death was calling for my beloved chief, and I was powerless to
keep the grisly visitor at bay. I felt Felix fumbling at his sword, and,
gripping him firmly by the wrist, whispered, "Keep still! What can you
do?"

"Die with him!" he answered fiercely.

"Nonsense!" I said coldly, for I had no wish to see him butchered
uselessly before my eyes, "you cannot do even that! You will be slain
before you have moved three yards. And I will not let you throw your
life away. Live, my friend, live to avenge him!"

"Ah," he whispered, "that is well said, Edmond. Take your hand off me. I
am calm enough now. Ah, they are knocking at the gate. Listen! 'In the
king's name!' That is Guise's voice. Will they open, think you, Edmond?"

I had dragged him into a doorway, so that the troopers might not see us,
but by this time there was little danger of detection; the noise had
aroused the neighbourhood, and m