meet them. I suppose, instead of that, you had the maid arranging
your headgear, or some such worldly folly."

The girl coloured hotly, for her father had hit upon the truth.

"Young people will be young people, Monsieur Bertram," Madame
Vaillant said, smiling, "and my husband and I are not of those who
think that it is necessary to carry a prim face, and to attire
one's self in ugly garments, as a proof of religion. Youth is the
time for mirth and happiness, and nature teaches a maiden what is
becoming to her; why then should we blame her for setting off the
charms God has given her to their best advantage?"

By this time they had reached the upper storey, and the merchant's
daughter hastened to relieve Madame Vaillant of her wraps.

"This is my nephew, of whom my husband wrote to you," the latter
said to the merchant, when Philip entered the room--he having
lingered at the door to pay the porters, and to see that the
luggage, which had come up close behind them, was stored.

"He looks active and strong, madame. He has the figure of a fine
swordsman."

"He has been well taught, and will do no discredit to our race,
Monsieur Bertram. His father is a strong and powerful man, even for
an Englishman; and though Philip does not follow his figure, he has
something of his strength."

"They are wondrous strong, these Englishmen," the trader said. "I
have seen, among their sailors, men who are taller by a head than
most of us here, and who look strong enough to take a bull by the
horns and hold him. But had it not been for your nephew's fair hair
and gray eyes, his complexion, and the smile on his lips--we have
almost forgotten how to smile, in France--I should hardly have
taken him for an Englishman."

"There is nothing extraordinary in that, Monsieur Bertram, when his
mother is French, and he has lived greatly in the society of my
husband and myself, and among the Huguenot colony at Canterbury."

"Have you succeeded in getting the horses and the four men for us,
Monsieur Bertram?" Philip asked.

"Yes, everything is in readiness for your departure tomorrow.
Madame will, I suppose, ride behind you upon a pillion; and her
maid behind one of the troopers.

"I have, in accordance with Monsieur Vaillant's instructions,
bought a horse, which I think you will be pleased with; for Guise
himself might ride upon it, without feeling that he was ill
mounted. I was fortunate in lighting on such an animal. It was the
property