“I trust you have rested well,” he said, “as I am about to send you on another journey.  There is, however, no danger in it,” he added, smiling.  “I wish you to go to the Prince of Conde at Noyers, to tell him your story, and to answer any questions he may put to you.  I am setting out myself in an hour or two, but my preparations are not complete.  Monsieur Bellievre will accompany you as guide; he has received my instructions.”

The Admiral could not have chosen for me a more suitable comrade than Felix Bellievre.  He was quite young, barely more than eighteen, tall, slim, and good-looking.  He had large, expressive, dark eyes, thick, curling hair, and beautiful white teeth.  His smile was sweet and winning, and he had an air of candour very engaging.  Indeed, he so won upon me, that, after the first mile or two of our journey, we were chatting like old friends.

“You must be a person of importance,” he declared merrily.  “Your coming has created a tremendous commotion at Tanlay.  Is it true that the Guises are bent on a fresh war?”

“I cannot tell; I am nothing more than a messenger.”

“’Twas said last night you were the bearer of startling news.  There was whisper of a plot to swoop down upon the Admiral and on Conde, and to whisk them off to Paris.  Faith, if the Guises once got them there we should see little of them again.”

“Why has the Admiral no soldiers?”

“Because he is too honourable to distrust others.  He believes they will keep their word.  As for me, I would as soon trust a starving wolf as a Guise, or the Queen-Mother.  The Admiral is foolish, but he is too good-hearted to think about himself.”

Praise of the Admiral entered largely into Bellievre’s conversation, as indeed it did into that of all his retinue.  No one was so wise or strong, so full of courage and good sense, so patient and forbearing, so grand and noble as Gaspard de Coligny.  It was hero worship, perhaps, but hero worship of the truest kind.  Not one of his household but would have died for him.

“Do you know,” I said presently, “that the Admiral is coming to Noyers?”

“And his gentlemen!  It looks as if rumour for once spoke true.”

“But we cannot defend ourselves at Noyers against an army!”

“No, that is impossible.  Besides, our leaders must be free, or there will be no one to command the troops.  Fancy an army without Conde or the Admiral at its head!” and he laughed merrily.

“Then what is likely to be done?”

“Faith, I have no notion!” he answered lightly.

“We march and countermarch and fight, just as we are bidden; it is all one to those of Coligny’s household.  We never ask questions.”

It was a glorious day, with a fresh breeze tempering the heat of the sun, and we rode along gaily.  My comrade had already learned habits of caution, but there was really no danger, and late in the afternoon we reached Noyers, where, after a short delay, I was admitted into Conde’s presence.