“If you think that, because I warned you to remove your sister from Paris, you are mistaken.  Your surprise this morning was not greater than my own.  I believe that scarcely any one inside the palace knew of what was going on.”

“But you yourself expected trouble of some kind!”

“True; and now I am sure of it.  How can it be avoided?  Each side is suspicious of the other:  you are angry, and justly angry, at the assault on your chief, and you threaten vengeance even on the king.  I believe he wishes to be your friend, and you are driving him into the arms of your enemies.  Do you fancy he will care to trust himself in your hands after to-night’s mad freak?  But the hour grows late, and the streets are not safe; I will walk a short distance with you.”

“The citizens are still abroad!” I remarked after a time.  “Listen! they are cheering for Guise!”

“And there lies the trouble,” he said.  “But, monsieur, I have a private word for you.  Etienne Cordel is in Paris; he can read the signs as well as most men, and if there is a disturbance he will take advantage of it.  You are doubly in danger—­first as a Huguenot and a friend of Coligny’s; next as the owner of Le Blanc.  You will have to steer skilfully to avoid both dangers!”

“You speak as if a plot to murder the Huguenots were already afoot.”

“I am aware of no plot at present,” he said, “but after to-day’s unlucky events one can be sure of nothing.  Here is the corner of your street; I will bid you good-night, and once more I repeat my warning.  Guard yourself, and sleep with your sword at your hand.”

CHAPTER XXVI

What will the King do?

The morning of August 23 broke bright and clear, but I rose from my bed with a troubled and unquiet feeling.  I had passed a restless night, dreaming that all Paris was ablaze, and that the streets of the city were running with blood, and I could not get rid of the thought that some terrible calamity was about to happen.

Directly it was light the house began to fill with Huguenot gentlemen, asking eagerly how it fared with their beloved chief.  He was still extremely weak, but Pare spoke hopefully, declaring there was no cause for alarm, and that his illustrious patient required only rest and quietness.

“In a few days he will be able to leave Paris,” said the famous surgeon, “and his recovery is certain.  I have not the slightest anxiety about him.”

This was cheering news, but as the day wore on strange and alarming rumours began to reach us from the city.  Our spies reported that the streets were thronged with excited people, cheering for Guise and threatening the Huguenots with death.

“There is some one behind all this,” said Felix, “some one working in secret to stir up the passions of the citizens.  Unless the king interferes there will be a terrible outbreak shortly.”