mouth to his love, but allowed herself to be properly pressed, adored, caressed, delighting to be properly pressed, admirably adored, and calorously caressed after the manner of eager lovers.  And both agreed to be all in all to each other the whole night long, no matter what the result might be, she counting the future as a fig in comparison with the joys of this night, he relying upon his cunning and his sword to obtain many another.  In short, both of them caring little for life, because at one stroke they consummated a thousand lives, enjoyed with each other a thousand delights, giving to each other the double of their own—­believing, he and she, that they were falling into an abyss, and wishing to roll there closely clasped, hurling all the love of their souls with rage in one throw.  Therein they loved each other well.  Thus they knew not love, the poor citizens, who live mechanically with their good wives, since they know not the fierce beating of the heart, the hot gush of life, and the vigorous clasp as of two young lovers, closely united and glowing with passion, who embrace in face of the danger of death.  Now the youthful lady and the gentleman ate little supper, but retired early to rest.  Let us leave them there, since no words, except those of paradise unknown to us, would describe their delightful agonies, and agonising delights.  Meanwhile, the husband, so well cuckolded that all memory of marriage had been swept away by love,—­the said Avenelles found himself in a great fix.  To the council of the Huguenots came the Prince of Conde, accompanied by all the chiefs and bigwigs, and there it was resolved to carry off the queen-mother, the Guises, the young king, the young queen, and to change the government.  This becoming serious, the advocate seeing his head at stake, did not feel the ornaments being planted there, and ran to divulge the conspiracy to the cardinal of Lorraine, who took the rogue to the duke, his brother, and all three held a consultation, making fine promises to the Sieur Avenelles, whom with the greatest difficulty they allowed, towards midnight, to depart, at which hour he issued secretly from the castle.  At this moment the pages of the gentleman and all his people were having a right jovial supper in honour of the fortuitous wedding of their master.  Now, arriving at the height of the festivities, in the middle of the intoxication and joyous huzzahs, he was assailed with jeers, jokes, and laughter that turned him sick when he came into his room.  The poor servant wished to speak, but the advocate promptly planted a blow in her stomach, and by a gesture commanded her to be silent.  Then he felt in his valise, and took therefrom a good poniard.  While he was opening and shutting it, a frank, naive, joyous, amorous, pretty, celestial roar of laughter, followed by certain words of easy comprehension, came down through the trap.  The cunning advocate, blowing out his candle, saw through the cracks in the boards caused by the