He had received a message from Tanlay some hours previously, and he said at once:  “You are Edmond Le Blanc, who brought the packet from La Rochelle.”

“From the Castle of Le Blanc, my lord, where it was given me by Ambroise Devine.”

“Ah, yes, he was attacked and wounded.  What did he tell you?”

“That troops were being collected secretly to surround Tanlay and Noyers, that the banks of the Loire were guarded”—­the Prince gave a start of surprise—­and that unless you moved quickly, your escape would be cut off.”

“And you rode from Le Blanc to Tanlay?  Did you hear anything of this on the journey?”

“No, my lord, but there seemed to be a general feeling of uneasiness abroad, as if people thought something strange was about to happen.”

“Did you notice any movement of troops?”

“No, my lord.”

“Where did you cross the Loire?”

“At the ford a little to the north of Nevers.”

“And it was unguarded?  But there, it matters little; it will be guarded by now.  How do the folks in your own neighbourhood talk?”

“That the present state of things cannot continue, and that one side or the other must begin a fresh war.”

“Humph,” he said, half to himself, “if we unsheath the sword again, we will not lay it down until the work is finished.  Monsieur, you need rest and refreshment; my gentlemen will attend to you.  The Admiral will be here by nightfall.  We have to thank you for your services.  It was a very gallant enterprise.”

Bellievre, who was no stranger at Noyers, introduced me to several of his acquaintances, and we spent a merry evening together.  The rumour of some impending calamity had spread rapidly, and all sorts of opinions were expressed by Conde’s cavaliers.

“I hope,” said one, “if war does break out that the Prince will not make peace until the Guises and the Queen-Mother are swept out of the country.  The king is but a cat’s-paw.”

“True,” cried another.  “His mother rules him completely.”

“And the Guises rule her!”

“Not at all,” said the first man, “she is ruled by her own fears.  Catherine wants all the power in her own hands, and she is afraid of the Prince’s influence.  That is the root of the evil.”

“She has too many Spaniards and Italians around her,” said Bellievre; “France is drained dry by foreigners.  A plague on the leeches!”

“Bravo, Felix, that is well said; but if this rumour is really true, it is time we were doing something.  A hundred sworders would make little impression on an army.”

“Trust our chiefs!  The Admiral will be here in an hour or two.  I shall be surprised if we are not out of Noyers by this time to-morrow.”