me into the room
where they were sitting, followed by two servants carrying small,
but heavy bags.

"Mademoiselle," he said, when the servants had placed these on the
table and retired, "I have pleasure in handing you these.

"Philip, Mademoiselle de Valecourt will not come to you as a
dowerless bride, which indeed would be a shame for a daughter of so
old and noble a family. Mademoiselle has signed a formal
renunciation of her rights to the estates of her late father and,
by some slight good offices on my part, his majesty has obtained
for her, from the man to whom he has granted the estates of
Valecourt, the sum of ten thousand livres--a poor fraction, indeed,
of the estates she should have inherited; and yet a considerable
sum, in itself."

A week later, Sir Philip Fletcher and Claire de Valecourt were
married in the principal church of La Rochelle. The Count de la
Noue, as a friend and companion-in-arms of her father, gave her
away; and all the Huguenot noblemen and gentlemen in the town were
present. Three weeks later, a great assault upon the bastion of
L'Evangile having been repulsed, the siege languished; the
besieging army having suffered greatly, both from death in the
trenches and assaults, and by the attacks of fever.

The Count of Montgomery arrived from England, with some
reinforcements. De la Noue resigned to him the governorship, and
left the city. The Prince of Anjou, shortly afterwards, received
the crown of Poland; and left the camp, with a number of nobles, to
proceed to his new kingdom; and the army became so weakened that
the siege was practically discontinued and, the blockading fleet
being withdrawn, Philip and his wife took passage in a ship for
England, Pierre accompanying them.

"I may come some day with Francois, Philip," the countess said,
"but not till I see that the cause is altogether lost. Still I have
faith that we shall win tolerance. They say that the king is mad.
Anjou has gone to Poland. Alencon is still unmarried. I believe
that it is God's will that Henry of Navarre should come to the
throne of France, and if so, there will be peace and toleration in
France. So long as a Huguenot sword is unsheathed, I shall remain
here."

Philip had written to acquaint his father and mother of his
marriage, and his intention to return with his wife as soon as the
siege was over. There was therefore but little surprise, although
great joy, when he arrived. He had sent off Pierre on horse