oice.

Coconnas was in the middle of the street, and fearing to be surrounded
by these four men who assailed him at once, sprang backward with the
agility of one of the chamois which he had so often hunted in his native
mountains, and in an instant found himself with his back against the
wall of the Hotel de Guise. Once at ease as to not being surprised from
behind he put himself in a posture of defence, and said, jestingly:

"Aha, father Mercandon, don't you know me?"

"Wretch!" cried the old Huguenot, "I know you well; you are engaged
against me--me, your father's friend and companion."

"And his creditor, are you not?"

"Yes; his creditor, as you say."

"Well, then," said Coconnas, "I have come to settle our accounts."

"Seize him, bind him!" said Mercandon to the young men who accompanied
him, and who at his bidding rushed toward the Piedmontese.

"One moment! one moment!" said Coconnas, laughing, "to seize a man you
must have a writ, and you have forgotten to secure one from the
provost."

And with these words he crossed his sword with the young man nearest to
him and at the first blow cut his wrist.

The wounded man retreated with a howl.

"That will do for one!" said Coconnas.

At the same moment the window under which Coconnas had sought shelter
opened noisily. He sprang to one side, fearing an attack from behind;
but instead of an enemy he saw a woman; instead of the enemy's weapon he
was prepared to encounter, a nosegay fell at his feet.

"Ah!" he said, "a woman!"

He saluted the lady with his sword, and stooped to pick up the bouquet.

"Be on your guard, brave Catholic!--be on your guard!" cried the lady.

Coconnas rose, but not before the second nephew's dagger had pierced his
cloak, and wounded his other shoulder.

The lady uttered a piercing shriek.

Coconnas thanked her, assured her by a gesture, and then made a pass,
which the nephew parried; but at the second thrust, his foot slipped in
the blood, and Coconnas, springing at him like a tiger-cat, drove his
sword through his breast.

"Good! good! brave cavalier!" exclaimed the lady of the Hotel de Guise,
"good! I will send you succor."

"Do not give yourself any trouble about that, madame," was Coconnas's
reply; "rather look on to the end, if it interests you, and see how the
Comte Annibal de Coconnas settles the Huguenots."

At this moment old Mercandon's son aimed a pistol at close range to
Coconnas, and fired. The count fell o