, surveying me with a malicious leer. As our eyes met--"So, master
meddler," quoth he mockingly, "you crow less lustily than is your wont."

"Hound!" I gasped, choking with rage, "if you are a man, if there be a
spark of pride or honour left in your lying, cowardly soul, order your
assassins to give me my sword, and, wounded though I be, I'll fight with
you this duel that you lured me here to fight."

He laughed harshly.

"I told you but this morning, Master de Luynes, that a St. Auban does
not fight men of your stamp. You forced a rendezvous upon me; you shall
reap the consequences."

Despite the weakness arising from loss of blood, I sprang towards him,
beside myself with fury. But ere I had covered half the distance
that lay between us my arms were gripped from behind, and in my spent
condition I was held there, powerless, at the Marquis's mercy. He came
slowly forward until we were but some two feet apart. For a second he
stood leering at me, then, raising his hand, he struck me--struck a man
whose arms another held!--full upon the face. Passion for the moment
lent me strength, and in that moment I had wrenched my right arm free
and returned his blow with interest.

With an oath he got out a dagger that hung from his baldrick.

"Sang du Christ! Take that, you dog!" he snarled, burying the blade in
my breast as he spoke.

"My God! You are murdering me!" I gasped.

"Have you discovered it? What penetration!" he retorted, and those about
him laughed at his indecent jest!

He made a sign, and the man who had held me withdrew his hands. I
staggered forward, deprived of his support, then a crashing blow took me
across the head.

I swayed for an instant, and with arms upheld I clutched at the air,
as if I sought, by hanging to it, to save myself from falling; then the
moon appeared to go dark, a noise as of the sea beating upon its shore
filled my ears, and I seemed to be falling--falling--falling.

A voice that buzzed and vibrated oddly, growing more distant at each
word, reached me as I sank.

"Come," it said. "Fling that carrion into the river."

Then nothingness engulfed me.

CHAPTER XV. OF MY RESURRECTION

Even as the blow which had plunged me into senselessness had imparted to
me the sinking sensation which I have feebly endeavoured to depict,
so did the first dim ray of returning consciousness bring with it the
feeling that I was again being buoyed upwards through the thick
waters that had