With a stroke of his oars La Renaudie put the boat at the lower step of the stairway which led to the house.  Christophe landed, and the boat disappeared instantly beneath the arches of the pont au Change.

II

THE BURGHERS

Christophe shook the iron railing which closed the stairway on the river, and called.  His mother heard him, opened one of the windows of the back shop, and asked what he was doing there.  Christophe answered that he was cold and wanted to get in.

“Ha! my master,” said the Burgundian maid, “you went out by the street-door, and you return by the water-gate.  Your father will be fine and angry.”

Christophe, bewildered by a confidence which had just brought him into communication with the Prince de Conde, La Renaudie, and Chaudieu, and still more moved at the prospect of impending civil war, made no answer; he ran hastily up from the kitchen to the back shop; but his mother, a rabid Catholic, could not control her anger.

“I’ll wager those three men I saw you talking with are Ref—­”

“Hold your tongue, wife!” said the cautious old man with white hair who was turning over a thick ledger.  “You dawdling fellows,” he went on, addressing three journeymen, who had long finished their suppers, “why don’t you go to bed?  It is eight o’clock, and you have to be up at five; besides, you must carry home to-night President de Thou’s cap and mantle.  All three of you had better go, and take your sticks and rapiers; and then, if you meet scamps like yourselves, at least you’ll be in force.”

“Are we going to take the ermine surcoat the young queen has ordered to be sent to the hotel des Soissons? there’s an express going from there to Blois for the queen-mother,” said one of the clerks.

“No,” said his master, “the queen-mother’s bill amounts to three thousand crowns; it is time to get the money, and I am going to Blois myself very soon.”

“Father, I do not think it right at your age and in these dangerous times to expose yourself on the high-roads.  I am twenty-two years old, and you ought to employ me on such errands,” said Christophe, eyeing the box which he supposed contained the surcoat.

“Are you glued to your seats?” cried the old man to his apprentices, who at once jumped up and seized their rapiers, cloaks, and Monsieur de Thou’s furs.

The next day the Parliament was to receive in state, as its president, this illustrious judge, who, after signing the death warrant of Councillor du Bourg, was destined before the close of the year to sit in judgment on the Prince de Conde!

“Here!” said the old man, calling to the maid, “go and ask friend Lallier if he will come and sup with us and bring the wine; we’ll furnish the victuals.  Tell him, above all, to bring his daughter.”