wn the staircase, like an avalanche.

"To the admiral's!" shouted Maurevel.

"To the admiral's!" echoed La Huriere.

"To the admiral's, then, if it must be so!" cried Coconnas in his turn.

And all three, leaving the _Belle Etoile_ in charge of Gregoire and the
other waiters, hastened toward the admiral's hotel in the Rue de
Bethizy; a bright light and the report of fire-arms guided them in that
direction.

"Ah, who comes here?" cried Coconnas. "A man without his doublet or
scarf!"

"It is some one escaping," said Maurevel.

"Fire! fire!" said Coconnas; "you who have arquebuses."

"Faith, not I," replied Maurevel. "I keep my powder for better game."

"You, then, La Huriere!"

"Wait, wait!" said the innkeeper, taking aim.

"Oh, yes, wait," cried Coconnas, "and meantime he will escape."

And he rushed after the unhappy wretch, whom he soon overtook, as he was
wounded; but at the moment when, in order that he might not strike him
behind, he exclaimed, "Turn, will you! turn!" the report of an arquebuse
was heard, a bullet whistled by Coconnas's ears, and the fugitive rolled
over, like a hare in its swiftest flight struck by the shot of the
sportsman.

A cry of triumph was heard behind Coconnas. The Piedmontese turned round
and saw La Huriere brandishing his weapon.

"Ah," he exclaimed, "I have handselled this time at any rate."

"And only just missed making a hole quite through me."

"Be on your guard!--be on your guard!" cried La Huriere.

Coconnas sprung back. The wounded man had risen on his knee, and, eager
for revenge, was just on the point of stabbing him with his poniard,
when the landlord's warning put the Piedmontese on his guard.

"Ah, viper!" shouted Coconnas; and rushing at the wounded man, he thrust
his sword through him three times up to the hilt.

"And now," cried he, leaving the Huguenot in the agonies of death, "to
the admiral's!--to the admiral's!"

"Aha! my gentlemen," said Maurevel, "it seems to work."

"Faith! yes," replied Coconnas. "I do not know if it is the smell of
gunpowder makes me drunk, or the sight of blood excites me, but by
Heaven! I am thirsty for slaughter. It is like a battue of men. I have
as yet only had battues of bears and wolves, and on my honor, a battue
of men seems more amusing."

And the three went on their way.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE MASSACRE.

The hotel occupied by the admiral, as we have said, was situated in the
Rue de Bethizy. It was a gr