nd the jailer Coconnas heard sounds and perceived shadows.

Suddenly in the midst of the darkness he distinguished two helmets, on
which the smoking candle threw a yellow light.

"Oh!" said he in a low voice, "what is this sinister procession? What is
going to happen?"

The jailer replied by a sigh which greatly resembled a groan.

"By Heaven!" murmured Coconnas; "what a wretched existence! always on
the ragged edge; never on firm land; either we paddle in a hundred feet
of water or we hover above the clouds; never a happy medium. Well, where
are we going?"

"Follow the halberdiers, monsieur," repeated the same voice.

He had to obey. Coconnas left his room, and perceived the dark man whose
voice had been so disagreeable. He was a clerk, small and hunchbacked,
who no doubt had put on the gown in order to hide his bandy legs, as
well as his back. He slowly descended the winding stairs. At the first
landing the guards paused.

"That is a good deal to go down," murmured Coconnas, "but not enough."

The door opened. The prisoner had the eye of a lynx and the scent of a
bloodhound. He scented the judges and saw in the shadow the silhouette
of a man with bare arms; the latter sight made the perspiration mount to
his brow. Nevertheless, he assumed his most smiling manner, and entered
the room with his head tipped to one side, and his hand on his hip,
after the most approved manner of the times.

A curtain was raised, and Coconnas perceived the judges and the clerks.

A few feet away La Mole was seated on a bench.

Coconnas was led to the front of the tribunal. Arrived there, he
stopped, nodded and smiled to La Mole, and then waited.

"What is your name, monsieur?" inquired the president.

"Marcus Annibal de Coconnas," replied the gentleman with perfect ease.
"Count de Montpantier, Chenaux, and other places; but they are known, I
presume."

"Where were you born?"

"At Saint Colomban, near Suza."

"How old are you?"

"Twenty-seven years and three months."

"Good!" said the president.

"This pleases him, apparently," said Coconnas.

"Now," said the president after a moment's silence which gave the clerk
time to write down the answers of the accused; "what was your reason for
leaving the service of Monsieur d'Alencon?"

"To rejoin my friend Monsieur de la Mole, who had already left the duke
three days before."

"What were you doing the day of the hunt, when you were arrested?"

"Why," said Coconnas, "I