mesnil was
concealed, the latter, fearing that he might be recognised, suddenly
came out with a drawn sword in his hand; whereupon the said Colas cried:
'Help! There is a robber!' And he declared to St. Aignan that he had
seen a strange man who did not seem to be there for any good purpose;
whereupon St. Aignan said to him: 'One must find out who it is. Is there
occasion for any one to come here at this hour?' Thereupon Colas went
after the said personage, whom he found in a little alley near the
courtyard behind the house; and the said personage, having suddenly
perceived Colas, endeavoured to strike him on the body with his weapon;
but Colas withstood him and gave him a few blows,(5) for which reason he
cried out 'Help! Murder!' Thereupon St. Aignan arrived, having a sword
in his hand; and after him came the said Guerin. St. Aignan, who as yet
did not know Dumesnil on account of his disguise, and also because it
was wonderfully dark, found him calling out: 'Murder! Confession!'
By which cry the said St. Aignan knew him, and was greatly perplexed,
astonished, and angered, at seeing his enemy at such an hour in his
house, he having been found there, with a weapon, in the closet. And the
said St. Aignan recalling to memory the trouble and worry that Dumesnil
had caused him, dealt him two or three thrusts in hot anger, and then
said to him: 'Hey! Wretch that thou art, what hast brought thee here?
Wert thou not content with the wrong thou didst me in coming here
previously? I never did thee an ill office.' Whereupon the said Dumesnil
said: 'It is true, I have too grievously offended you, and am too
wicked; I entreat your pardon.' And thereupon he fell to the ground as
if dead; which seeing, the said St. Aignan, realising the misfortune
that had happened, said not a word, but recommended himself to God and
withdrew into his room, where he found his wife in bed, she having heard
nothing.

4 The _en cas_ was a kind of light supper provided _in case_
one felt hungry at night-time. Most elaborate _en cas_,
consisting of several dishes, were frequently provided for
the kings of France.--Ed.

5 In the story Margaret asserts that it was Thomas Guerin
who attacked Dumesnil.--D.

"On the night of the said dispute, and a little later, St. Aignan
went to see what the said Dumesnil was doing, and finding him in the
courtyard dead, he helped to carry him into the stable, being too
greatly incensed to ac