th. Renaud
will return in the evening."

"Renaud!" I exclaimed, "do you mean Renaud L'Estang? Do I owe my life to
him?"

"He is a brave man," she answered, "he saved your life at the risk of
his own; but I must go again. Do not make any sound, monsieur. If the
citizens were aware of your being here they would murder us."

She went out and fastened the door, leaving me to drink the soup at my
leisure. So, it was Renaud L'Estang who had saved me. Truly that little
action of mine in Rochelle had borne good fruit.

Several times during the afternoon I returned to the window overlooking
the narrow street, but toward evening I lay down and slept, and when a
noise at the door wakened me the room was nearly dark.

"Monsieur," a voice exclaimed, "are you awake? Do not be alarmed; it is
I--L'Estang."

Hearing me move, he closed the door softly, and came across to the bed.
"You are better," he said, "I am glad of that, as you must leave Paris.
I have saved your life thus far, but it will be impossible to do so much
longer. Cordel has discovered that you are alive, and his fellows are
searching for your hiding-place. You must go to Rochelle at once; that
is your only place of safety."

"It is easy to say 'Go to Rochelle,'" I answered a trifle bitterly, "but
how is it to be done? The streets are filled with my enemies who will
kill me without mercy, and the gates, no doubt, are strictly watched."

"Yes," he replied slowly, "the sentries have been doubled, still it is
not impossible to get through, while to stay here means death. For the
sake of your sister you should endeavour to live."

"What do you propose?" I asked.

"I have a pass from Monseigneur in my pocket. The officer on duty is
commanded to let myself and Louis Bourdonais leave the city without
question or delay. For the time being you are Louis Bourdonais. As soon
as the night becomes darker I will bring a carriage to the house, you
will enter, and we will drive to the gate of St. Jacques. Unless you are
recognized there is no danger."

"And if I am?"

"Then," said he, "I fear you will share the fate of your friends."

"And you?"

He shrugged his shoulders carelessly, saying, "Have no fear for me; I
can easily make my peace with Monseigneur."

There seemed to me something cowardly in this running away from danger,
but L'Estang mocked at my scruples.

"What can you do?" he asked. "At present there is no Huguenot party. The
Admiral, Teligny, La Rochefou