“Another warning from your strange friend, I suppose,” said Felix.

I opened the paper and read hurriedly:  “Bring Monsieur Bellievre with you shortly after midnight, and meet me at the little gate of the Louvre where I saw you before.  Wrap yourselves up closely, and attract as little attention as possible.  Do not fail to come, as I have important news.—­D’ANGELY.”

“Are you sure this is not a second invitation from the lawyer?” my comrade asked.

“It appears to be L’Estang’s handwriting.”

“So did the other note.”

“True, but Etienne Cordel would not bait a trap for you.  He bears you no grudge, and besides you would only be in his way!”

“Yes,” said my comrade, “there is something in that.  Will you go?”

“Why not?  We may learn something that will be useful to our chief.  L’Estang wishes me well, and in order to save my life he may be tempted to disclose what he knows of Guise’s conspiracy; for I feel sure there is one.”

“If it will serve the Admiral,” said Felix hesitatingly.

“It may.  I cannot tell, but it is worth running a little risk to discover.”

“He has chosen an odd time and an odd place.”

“He cannot meet us in broad day, and a thousand causes may prevent him from coming to this quarter.  You must remember he is Anjou’s servant, and he will not wish to draw suspicion upon himself.”

“Very well,” said my comrade, “we will go.  Carnaton and La Bonne are on duty to-night.”

As the evening closed in the streets began to empty; our comrades went off to their lodgings, and by nine o’clock there were few of us left in the hotel.  Teligny and De Guerchy were in the sick-room, and with them Pare, the surgeon, and the Admiral’s chaplain, Pastor Merlin; Carnaton and La Bonne dozed in the ante-chamber, while Yolet was posting the five Switzers who formed part of Navarre’s bodyguard.

“It seems as if we shall have a quiet night, Yolet,” I remarked.

“The danger has blown over,” he answered.  “Charles was frightened into believing we intended to murder him, but the King of Navarre has opened his eyes.  The real plotters will have an unwelcome surprise in a day or two.  I heard De Guerchy telling the Admiral.”

“Oh,” said I, quite relieved by this information, “if the king keeps firm, we have nothing to fear.”

“Trusting to the king,” remarked my comrade, who always spoke of Charles as a puppet in the hands of his mother and brother, “is trusting to a broken reed.  For my part I hope the instant our chief is strong enough to travel he will hasten to Rochelle.  I have more faith in a keen blade than in a king’s promise,” and from Yolet’s face one would have judged he was of the same opinion.

About a quarter before midnight he came with us to open the front gate, and to fasten it after our departure.  We had told him something of our errand, and he advised us to go to work very warily, saying, “Do not forget that a dog isn’t dead because he has ceased barking!”