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"And I, monsieur, but the count Joseph Boniface de Lerac de la Mole, equally at your service."

"Since that is the case, let us take each other's arm, and go in so."

The result of this proposition was, that the two young men got off their horses, threw the bridles to the ostler, linked arms, adjusted their swords, and advanced towards the door of the inn, where stood mine host, who did not seem to notice them, so busy was he talking with a tall man, wrapped in a large sad-coloured cloak like an owl buried in her feathers.

The two gentlemen were so near the host and his friend in the sad-coloured cloak, that Coconnas, impatient at being thus neglected, touched his sleeve.

He appeared suddenly to perceive them, and dismissed his friend with an: "Au revoir! be sure and let me know the hour appointed."

"Well, monsieur le drôle," said Coconnas, "do not you see we have business with you?"

"I beg pardon, gentlemen," said the host; "I did not see you."

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Eh, mordi! then you ought to have seen us; and now that you do see us, say, M. le comte,' and not merely 'monsieur.'

La Mole stood by, leaving Coconnas, who seemed to have undertaken the affair, to speak; but it was plain, from the expression of his face, that he was fully prepared to act upon. occasion.

"Well, what is your pleasure, M. le comte?" asked the landlord, in a quiet tone.

"Ah, that's better; is it not?" said Coconnas, turning to La Mole, who inclined his head, affirmatively. "Monsieur le comte and myself wish to sup and sleep here to-night."

"Gentlemen," said the host, "I am very sorry, but I have only one chamber, and I am afraid that would not suit you." "So much the better," said La Mole; " we will go and

lodge somewhere else."

"I shall stay here," said Coconnas; "my horse is tired. I will have the room, since you will not.”

"Ah! that is quite different," replied the host, coolly. "I cannot lodge you at all, then."

"Mordi" cried Coconnas, "here's a pretty fellow! Just now you could not lodge us because we were two, and now You will not lodge us at all,

you have not room for one.

then ?"

66 Since you

you frankly."

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take this high tone, gentlemen, I will answer

Answer, then; only answer quickly."

"Well, then, I would rather not have the honour of lodging you at all.”

"For what reason?" asked Coconnas, growing white with

rage.

"Because you have no servants, and for one master's room full, I should have two servants' rooms empty; so that, if I let you have the master's room, I run the risk of not letting the others."

"M. de la Mole," said Coconnas, "do you not think we ought to thrash this fellow ?"

"Decidedly," said La Mole, preparing himself, together with Coconnas, to lay his whip over the host's back.

But the landlord, despite this demonstration, contented himself with retreating a step or two.

"It is easy to see," said he, in a tone of raillery, "that these gentlemen are from the provinces. At Paris, it is no longer the fashion to kill innkeepers-only great men are killed now-a-days; and if you make any disturbance, I will call my neighbours, and instead of you beating me, you shall be beaten yourselves."

"Mordi!" cried Coconnas, in a rage; "he is laughing at

us."

"Gregoire, my arquebuss," said the host, with the same voice with which he would have said, "Give these gentlemen a chair."

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Trippe del papa!" cried Coconnas, drawing his sword 1 ; 66 rouse yourself, M. de la Mole.”

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No, no; for whilst we rouse ourselves, our supper will get cold."

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"That M. de la belle Etoile is right; only he does not know how to treat his guests, especially when they are gentlemen; for instead of saying, 'Gentlemen, I do not want you,' he should have said, 'Enter, gentlemen at the same time

reserving to himself the right to charge in his bill-Master's room, so much; servants, so much."-With these words, La Mole pushed the host, who was looking for his arquebuss, on one side, and entered with Coconnas.

"Well," said Coconnas, "I am sorry to sheathe my sword before I have ascertained that it is as sharp as that rascal's larding-needle."

"Patience, my dear friend," said La Mole. "All the inns in Paris are full of gentlemen come to attend the king of Navarre's marriage, and we shall have great difficulty in finding another apartment; besides, perhaps it is the custom to receive strangers at Paris in this manner.'

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"Mordi! how quiet you are, M. de la Mole!" muttered Coconnas, curling his red moustache with rage. "But let the scoundrel take care; for if his meat be not excellent, if his bed be hard, his wine less than three years in bottle, and his waiter be not as pliant as a reed

"Ah, ah!" said the landlord, whetting his knife on a strap, "you may make yourself easy; you are in a land of plenty."

Then, in a low tone, he added-" These are some huguenots; they have grown so insolent since the marriage of their Béarnais with mademoiselle Marguerite!" Then with a smile that would have made his guests shudder had they seen it— "How strange it would be if I were just to have two huguenots come to my house, when

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"Now, then," interrupted Coconnas, "are we going to have any supper?"

"Yes, as soon as you please, monsieur," returned the host, softened, no doubt, by the last reflection.

"Well, then, the sooner the better," said Coconnas; and turning to La Mole

"Pray, M. le comte, whilst our room is being prepared, tell me, do you think Paris seems a gay city?"

"Ma foi! no," said La Mole. "All the Parisians I saw had most forbidding faces; perhaps they are afraid of the storm; for the sky looks very black, and the air feels heavy." "Are you not looking for the Louvre, count?"

"Yes! and you also, monsieur de Coconnas." "Well, let us look for it together.”

"It is rather late to go out, is it not?" said La Mole. "Early or late, I must go out: my orders are peremptory—

'Come instantly to Paris, and communicate with the duke de Guise, without delay.'

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At the name of the duke de Guise, the landlord drew nearer. "I think the rascal is listening to us," said Coconnas, who could not forgive the host his rude reception of them.

"I am listening, gentlemen," replied he, taking off his cap; "but it is to serve you. I heard the great duke's name mentioned, and I came immediately. What can I do for you?" "Ah! this name is magical, since it renders you so polite. Tell me, master-what's your name?"

"La Hurière," replied the host, bowing.

"Well, master la Hurière, do you think my arm is lighter than the duc de Guise's, who makes you so civil?"

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"No, M. le comte; but it is not so long: besides, I must you, that the great Henry is the idol of the Parisians." "What Henry?" asked La Mole.

"There is only one."

"Which?"

"Henry de Guise!"

"You are mistaken; there is another, whom I desire you do not speak ill of, and that is Henry of Navarre, besides Henry de Condé, who has his share of merit.”

"I do not know them," said the landlord.

"But I do; and as I am directed to the king of Navarre, I desire you not to speak slightingly of him before me."

The host only replied by touching his cap, and continued speaking to Coconnas

"Monsieur is going to see the great duke de Guise. Monsieur is very fortunate. He is come, no doubt, for

"What?" asked Coconnas.

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"For the fête,” replied the host, with a singular smile.

"For all the fêtes," replied Coconnas; "for Paris is, I hear, a succession of fêtes. Does not every one find plenty of amusement?"

"Pretty well; but they will have more soon, I hope."

"The marriage of the king of Navarre has brought a great many people to Paris, has it not?" said La Mole.

"A great many huguenots-yes," replied La Hurière, but suddenly changing his tone

"Pardon me, gentlemen," said he; "perhaps you are of that religion?"

"I," cried Coconnas-"I am as good a catholic as the pope himself."

La Hurière looked at La Mole, but La Mole did not, or would not comprehend him.

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"If you do not know the king of Navarre," said La Mole, 'perhaps you know the admiral. I have heard he has some influence at court, and as I have letters for him, perhaps you will so far sully your mouth as to tell me where he lives?" "He did live in the Rue de Bethisy," replied the host, with a satisfaction he could not conceal.

"He did live?" said La Mole. "Yes-this world, perhaps."

"He has left, then?"

"What!" cried both the gentlemen together-"the admiral dead?"

"What, M. de Coconnas, are you a friend of the duke de Guise, and not know that?"

"Know what?"

"That the day before yesterday, the admiral was passing before the house of the canon Pierre Piles, when he was fired at

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"And killed?" said La Mole.

"No; he had his arm broken, and two fingers taken off; but it is hoped the balls were poisoned."

"How, wretch!" cried La Mole-"hoped?"

"Believed, I mean," said the host, winking at Coconnas; "it was a slip of the tongue."

"Really!" said Coconnas, joyfully.

"Really!" said La Mole, sorrowfully.

"It is just as I tell you, gentlemen," said the host. "In that case," said La Mole, "I must go instantly to the Louvre. Shall I find the king of Navarre there?"

"Most likely, since he lives there."

"And I," said Coconnas, "must also go to the Louvre, Shall I find the duke de Guise there?"

"Most likely; for he has this instant passed with two hundred gentlemen."

"Come, then, M. de Coconnas," said La Mole.

"I am ready," returned he.

"But your supper, gentlemen!" cried La Hurière.

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Ah," said La Mole, "I shall most likely sup with the king of Navarre."

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