"What, really," he exclaimed, "this festival – this banquet is a – you are going" —
"You have been a long time guessing, sir," said Maurevel, "and it is easy to see that you are not so weary of these insolent heretics as we are."
"And you take on yourself," he said, "to go to the admiral's and to" —
Maurevel smiled, and drawing Coconnas to the window he said:
"Look there! – do you see, in the small square at the end of the street, behind the church, a troop drawn up noiselessly in the shadow?"
"Yes."
"The men forming that troop have, like Maître la Hurière, and myself, and yourself, a cross in their hats."
"Well?"
"Well, these men are a company of Swiss, from the smaller cantons, commanded by Toquenot, – you know the men from the smaller cantons are the King's cronies."
"Oho!" said Coconnas.
"Now look at that troop of horse passing along the Quay – do you recognize their leader?"
"How can I recognize him?" asked Coconnas, with a shudder; "I reached Paris only this evening."
"Well, then, he is the one with whom you have a rendezvous at the Louvre at midnight. See, he is going to wait for you!"
"The Duc de Guise?"
"Himself! His escorts are Marcel, the ex-provost of the tradesmen, and Jean Choron, the present provost. These two are going to summon their companies, and here, down this street comes the captain of the quarter. See what he will do!"
"He knocks at each door; but what is there on the doors at which he knocks?"
"A white cross, young man, such as that which we have in our hats. In days gone by they let God bear the burden of distinguishing his own; now we have grown more civilized and we save him the bother."
"But at each house at which he knocks the door opens and from each house armed citizens come out."
"He will knock here in turn, and we shall in turn go out."
"What," said Coconnas, "every one called out to go and kill one old Huguenot? By Heaven! it is shameful! It is an affair of cut-throats, and not of soldiers."
"Young man," replied Maurevel, "if the old are objectionable to you, you may choose young ones – you will find plenty for all tastes. If you despise daggers, use your sword, for the Huguenots are not the men to allow their throats to be cut without defending themselves, and you know that Huguenots, young or old, are tough."
"But are they all going to be killed, then?" cried Coconnas.
"All!"
"By the King's order?"
"By order of the King and Monsieur de Guise."
"And when?"
"When you hear the bell of Saint Germain l'Auxerrois."
"Oh! so that was why that amiable German attached to the Duc de Guise – what is his name?"
"Monsieur de Besme."
"That is it. That is why Monsieur de Besme told me to hasten at the first sound of the tocsin."
"So then you have seen Monsieur de Besme?"
"I have seen him and spoken to him."
"Where?"
"At the Louvre. He admitted me, gave me the pass-word, gave me" —
"Look there!"
"By Heaven! – there he is himself."
"Would you speak with him?"
"Why, really, I should not object."
Maurevel carefully opened the window; Besme was passing at the moment with twenty soldiers.
"Guise and Lorraine!" said Maurevel.
Besme turned round, and perceiving that he himself was addressed, came under the window.
"Oh, is it you, Monsir de Maurefel?"
"Yes, ’tis I; what are you looking for?"
"I am looking for de hostelry of de Belle Étoile, to find a Monsir Gogonnas."
"Here I am, Monsieur de Besme," said the young man.
"Goot, goot; are you ready?"
"Yes – to do what?"
"Vatefer Monsieur de Maurefel may dell you, for he is a goot Gatolic."
"Do you hear?" inquired Maurevel.
"Yes," replied Coconnas, "but, Monsieur de Besme, where are you going?"
"I?" asked Monsieur de Besme, with a laugh.
"Yes, you."
"I am going to fire off a leedle wort at the admiral."
"Fire off two, if need be," said Maurevel, "and this time, if he gets up at the first, do not let him get up at the second."
"Haf no vear, Monsir de Maurefel, haf no vear, und meanvile get dis yoong mahn on de right drack."
"Don't worry about me: the Coconnas are regular bloodhounds, and I am a chip off the old block."2
"Atieu."
"Go on!"
"Unt you?"
"Begin the hunt; we shall be at the death."
De Besme went on, and Maurevel closed the window.
"Did you hear, young man?" said Maurevel; "if you have any private enemy, even if he is not altogether a Huguenot, you can put him on your list, and he will pass with the others."
Coconnas, more bewildered than ever with what he saw and heard, looked first at his landlord, who was assuming formidable attitudes, and then at Maurevel, who quietly drew a paper from his pocket.
"Here's my list," said he; "three hundred. Let each good Catholic do this night one-tenth part of the business I shall do, and to-morrow there will not remain one single heretic in the kingdom."
"Hush!" said La Hurière.
"What is it?" inquired Coconnas and Maurevel together.
They heard the first pulsation from the bell in Saint Germain l'Auxerrois.
"The signal!" exclaimed Maurevel. "The time is set forward! I was told it was appointed at midnight – so much the better. When it concerns the interest of God and the King, it is better for clocks to be fast than slow!"
In reality they heard the church bell mournfully tolling.
Then a shot was fired, and almost instantly the light of several torches blazed up like flashes of lightning in the Rue de l'Arbre Sec.
Coconnas passed his hand over his brow, which was damp with perspiration.
"It has begun!" cried Maurevel. "Now to work – away!"
"One moment, one moment!" said the landlord. "Before we begin, let us protect the camp, as we say in the army. I do not wish to have my wife and children's throats cut while I am out. There is a Huguenot here."
"Monsieur de la Mole!" said Coconnas, starting.
"Yes, the heretic has thrown himself into the wolf's throat."
"What!" said Coconnas, "would you attack your guest?"
"I gave an extra edge to my rapier for his special benefit."
"Oho!" said the Piedmontese, frowning.
"I never yet killed anything but my rabbits, ducks, and chickens," replied the worthy inn-keeper, "and I do not know very well how to go to work to kill a man; well, I will practise on him, and if I am clumsy, no one will be there to laugh at me."
"By Heaven! it is hard," said Coconnas. "Monsieur de la Mole is my companion; Monsieur de la Mole has supped with me; Monsieur de la Mole has played with me" —
"Yes;