im beheaded."

"Yes," said La Mole; "and moreover, it seems to me, from the politeness
and gentleness of the jailer and the looseness of the doors, that I
recognize our kind friends; but I do not recognize Monsieur de Beaulieu,
at least from what I had been told of him."

"I recognize him," said Coconnas; "only it will cost dearly. But one is
a princess, the other a queen; both are rich, and they will never have
so good an opportunity to use their money. Now let us go over our
lesson. We are to be taken to the chapel, and left there in charge of
our turnkey; we shall each find a dagger in the spot indicated. I am to
make a hole in the body of our guide."

"Yes, but a slight one in the arm; otherwise you will rob him of his
five hundred crowns."

"Ah, no; not in the arm, for in that case he would have to lose it, and
it would be easy to see that it was given intentionally. No, it must be
in his right side, gliding skilfully along his ribs; that would look
natural, but in reality would be harmless."

"Well, aim for that, and then"--

"Then you will barricade the front door with benches while our two
princesses rush from behind the altar, where they are to be hidden, and
Henriette opens the vestry door. Ah, faith, how I love Henriette to-day!
She must have been faithless to me in some way for me to feel as I do."

"And then," said La Mole, with the trembling voice which falls from lips
like music, "then we shall reach the forest. A kiss given to each of us
will make us strong and happy. Can you not picture us, Annibal, bending
over our swift horses, our hearts gently oppressed? Oh, what a good
thing is fear! Fear in the open air when one has one's naked sword at
one's side, when one cries 'hurra' to the courser pricked by the spur,
and which at each shout speeds the faster."

"Yes," said Coconnas, "but fear within four walls--what do you say to
that, La Mole? I can speak of it, for I have felt something of it. When
Beaulieu, with his pale face, entered my cell for the first time, behind
him in the darkness shone halberds, and I heard a sinister sound of iron
striking against iron. I swear to you I immediately thought of the Duc
d'Alencon, and I expected to see his ugly face between the two hateful
heads of the halberdiers. I was mistaken, however, and this was my sole
consolation. But that was not all; night came, and I dreamed."

"So," said La Mole, who had been following his happy train of thought
without payin