“There are ugly rumours about, Edmond.  It is whispered that Guise has sworn to take our patron’s life.  Coligny has received a dozen warnings, but he is too fearless to notice them.  He shrugs his shoulders and says ’It would be better to die a hundred times than to live in constant fear.  I am tired of such alarms, and have lived long enough.’  But he hasn’t lived long enough, Edmond!  Without him, the Cause would be ruined.”

“No one will dare to do him an injury while the king stands by him,” I said cheerfully.  “If Charles is really his friend there is nothing to fear.”

“I am not so sure of that.  Unless the Admiral is at his elbow Charles is simply a tool in the hands of Monseigneur and the Queen-Mother.”

“Even so it should be difficult for the assassin’s knife to reach our patron while he has his body-guard around him!” at which Felix laughed, saying the Admiral frequently ventured abroad either alone, or with but one or two attendants.

The next morning we set off for the Countess Guichy’s, where Jeanne received me with open arms.  Since our last meeting she had become even prettier, and I scarcely wondered that the gay young courtiers had called her the “Queen of Hearts.”  She was very happy and cheerful, and full of praise for Felix, who had watched over her as tenderly as if she were his own sister.

The countess was a stately lady, with a kind face and twinkling eyes.  It was easy to see she had become very attached to Jeanne, and she would listen to no arrangements that would remove my sister from her house.

“From all I can gather,” she said, “you will be off to the wars soon, and pray what will Jeanne do then?  Bury herself in that musty Rochelle?  No, my dear, you shall remain with me until—­ah, well, it isn’t your brother who will part us!” at which poor Jeanne flushed painfully.

The countess insisted on our remaining to dinner, after which we escorted Jeanne into the city, Felix pointing out the sights and describing the buildings with the air of one who had lived in Paris all his life.

Our patron still being with the king we enjoyed a great deal of leisure, and for nearly a week spent most of our time with the countess and Jeanne, much to the satisfaction of Felix, who so contrived that I always had the honour of escorting his noble relative.

We were returning late one evening, walking quietly along the Rue de Bethisy, at the corner of which stood the Admiral’s house, when a man, who had evidently been watching the approaches to the building, tapped me on the shoulder and whispered “Monsieur Le Blanc!”

He wore a large plumed hat which was drawn partly over his forehead, and he was, besides, closely muffled, but I had no difficulty in recognizing him as Renaud L’Estang.  Telling Felix I would follow in a few minutes, I turned aside with the adventurer into the courtyard of a large house where we were not likely to be interrupted.