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Fairly, or not, you must pay them, whilst, if I kill him, you are quits."

"Come, come!" cried Maurevel; "make haste, or we shall not be in time with the aid we have promised M. de Guise, at the admiral's.

Coconnas sighed.

"I'll make haste !" cried La Hurière, "wait for me."

"Mordi!" cried Coconnas, " he will put the poor gentleman to great pain, and, perhaps, rob him. I must be present to finish him, if requisite, and to prevent him from touching his money."

And impelled by this happy thought, Coconnas followed La Hurière upstairs, and soon overtook him, for the latter slackened his pace when he approached the intended victim.

As he reached the door, Coconnas still following, several discharges of musquetry in the streets were heard.

"Diable!" muttered La Hurière, somewhat disconcerted; "that has awakened him, I think."

"I should say so," observed Coconnas, "and he will defend himself; I do not know a likelier man. Suppose now, master La Hurière, he were to kill you, that would be droll, eh ?"

"Hum, hum!" responded the host, but knowing himself to be armed with a good arquebuse, he dashed the door in with a kick of his foot.

La Mole, without his hat, but dressed, was entrenched behind his bed, his sword between his teeth, and his pistols in his hands.

"Ah, ah !" said Coconnas, his nostrils expanding like a wild beast who smelt blood-" this grows interesting, master La Hurière.-Forward!"

ઃઃ Ah, you would assassinate me, it seems!" cried La Mole, whose eyes glared; "and it is you, wretch!"

Master La Hurière's reply to this was to take aim at the young man with his arquebuse; but La Mole was on his guard, and as he fired, went on his knees, and the ball passed over his head.

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Help !" cried La Mole-" help, M. de Coconnas !" Help, M. de Maurevel !-help!" cried La Hurière. "Ma foi! M. de la Mole,” replied Coconnas, "all I can do in this affair is not to join the attack against you.

It seems,

all the huguenots are to be put to death to-night, in the king's name. Get out of it as well as you can."

"Ah, traitors! assassins!-is it so? Well, then, take this!" And La Mole, aiming in his turn, fired one of his pistols. La Hurière who had kept his eye on him, moved suddenly on one side; but Coconnas, not anticipating such a reply, had not stirred, and the ball grazed his shoulder.

"Mordi !" he exclaimed, grinding his teeth-"I have it. Well, then, let it be us two, since you will have it so!"—and drawing his rapier, he rushed on La Mole.

Had he been alone, La Mole would, doubtless, have awaited his attack; but Coconnas had La Hurière to aid him, who was reloading his gun, and Maurevel, who was coming rapidly up the stairs. La Mole, therefore, dashed into a small closet which he bolted inside.

"Ah, coward!" cried Coconnas, furious, and striking at the door with the pommel of his sword-"wait! wait! and I will make as many holes in your body as you have gained crowns of me to-night. Wait for me, poltroon-wait for me!"

La Hurière fired his arquebuse at the lock, and the door flew open.

Coconnas rushed into the closet, but it was empty, and the window open.

"He has thrown himself out," said the host, "and as we are on the fourth story, he must be killed."

"Or, he has escaped by the roof of the next house," said Coconnas, putting his leg over the bar of the window, and preparing to follow him over this narrow and slippery route; but Maurevel and La Huriêre drew him back into the apartment.

"Are you mad?" they both exclaimed at once-"you will kill yourself!"

"Bah!" said Coconnas, "I am a mountaineer, and used to traverse the glaciers; besides, when a man has once offended me, I will go up to heaven or descend to hell with him, by whatever route he pleases. Let me do as I wish."

"Well," said Maurevel, "he is either dead or a long way off by this time. Come with us; and if he escape you, there will be a thousand others in his place."

"You are right," cried Coconnas. "Death to the huguenots! I want revenge, and the sooner the better."

And the three descended the staircase, like an avalanche. "To the admiral's !" shouted Maurevel.

"To the admiral's !" shouted La Hurière.

"To the admiral's, then, if it must be so!" shouted Coconnas. And all three, leaving the Belle Etoile in charge of Gregoire and the other waiters, hastened towards the Rue de Béthisy, a bright light, and the report of fire-arms, guiding them in that direction.

"Who comes here?" cried Coconnas. "A man without his doublet or scarf!"

"It is some one escaping," said Maurevel.

"Fire! fire!" said Coconnas-"you who have arquebuses."

"Ma foi! not I," replied Maurevel. "I keep my powder for better game."

"You, then, La Hurière!"

"Wait, wait!" said the innkeeper, taking aim.

"Oh, yes, wait, and he will escape," replied Coconnas. And he rushed after the unhappy wretch, whom he soon overtook, as he was wounded; but at the moment when, in order that he might not strike him behind, he exclaimed, "Turn, turn!" the report of an arquebuse was heard, a ball whistled by Coconnas' ears, and the fugitive rolled over, like a hare struck by the shot of the sportsman.

A cry of triumph was heard behind Coconnas. The Piedmontese turned round, and saw La Huriére brandishing his weapon.

"Ah, now," he exclaimed, "I have made my maiden shot!" "And only just missed making a hole in me, from one side to the other."

"Be on your guard!-be on your guard!

Coconnas sprung back. The wounded man had risen on his knee, and, full of revenge, was about to stab him with his poniard, when the host's warning put the Piedmontese on his guard.

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Ah, viper!" shouted Coconnas; and rushing at the wounded man, he thrust his sword through him three times up to the hilt.

"And now," cried he, leaving the huguenot in the agonies of death-" to the admiral's!-to the admiral's!"

"Ah, ah! my gentlemen," said Maurevel, "it seems to work."

"Ma foi! yes," replied Coconnas. "I do not know if it is the smell of gunpowder that makes me drunk, or the sight of blood which excites me, but, mordi! I am all anxious for slaughter. It is like a battue of men. I have as yet only had battues of bears and wolves, and, on my honour, a battue of men seems more amusing." And the three went on their way.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE VICTIMS.

THE hotel of the admiral was, as we have said, situated in the Rue de Béthisy. It was a large house, opening on a court in front, flanked by two wings. One principal and two small gates afforded entrance into this court-yard.

When our three cut-throats entered the Rue Béthisy, which forms part of the Rue des Fossés-St.-Germainl'Auxerrois, they saw the hotel surrounded with Swiss, soldiers and citizens, all armed to the teeth, some holding drawn swords, others arquebuses loaded and the matches burning, and some, in their left hand, torches that threw a fitful and lurid glare on this sea of human heads and naked weapons. The work of destruction was proceeding in the Rues Tirechappe, Etienne, and Bertin-Poirée. Agonized cries and the reports of muskets were heard incessantly; and, occasionally, some wretched fugitive rushed wildly through what, seen by the uncertain light, seemed a troop of demons.

In an instant, Coconnas, Maurevel, and La Hurière, accredited by their white crosses, and received with cries of welcome, were in the midst of the tumult, though they could not have entered the throng, had not Maurevel been recognised. Coconnas and La Hurière followed him, and all three contrived to enter the court.

In the centre of this court, the three doors of which were burst open, a man, around whom a body of catholics formed a respectful circle, stood leaning on his drawn rapier, and eagerly looking up at a balcony about fifteen feet above him, which extended in front of the principal window of the hotel. This man stamped impatiently on the ground, and, from time to time, questioned those around him.

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Nothing yet!" murmured he.

"No one! He has been warned, and has escaped. What do you think, Du Gast?"

"Impossible, monseigneur."

"Why? Did you not tell me, that just before we arrived, a man, bare-headed, a drawn sword in his hand, came running, as if pursued, knocked at the door, and was admitted?"

"Yes, monseigneur; but M. de Besme came up immediately, broke open the doors, and surrounded the hotel. The man went in, sure enough, but he has not gone out."

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"Why," said Coconnas to La Hurière, "if my eyes do not deceive me, it is M. de Guise I see."

"Himself, monsieur. Yes, the great Henry de Guise is come in person to watch for the admiral, and serve him as he served the duke's father. Every one has his day, and it is our turn now."

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Hola, Besme!" cried the duke, with his powerful voice, "have you not finished yet?"

And he struck his sword so forcibly against the stones that sparks flew out.

At this instant cries were heard in the hotel - then several shots-then a clashing of swords, and then all was again silent.

The duke was about to rush into the house.

"Monseigneur, monseigneur!" said Du Gast, detaining him, "your dignity commands you to wait here."

"You are right, Du Gast. I must stay here; but I am dying with anxiety. If he were to escape!"

Suddenly the windows of the first floor were lighted up with what seemed the reflection of torches.

The window, on which the duke's eyes were fixed, opened, or, rather, was shattered to pieces, and a man, his face and collar stained with blood, appeared on the balcony.

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