we
have described La Mole as performing.

The two princesses left the procession; the opportunity was most
favorable: they were passing by a hedge-lined footpath which led up the
hill, and in doing so passed within thirty yards of the gibbet. Madame
de Nevers whispered a word in her captain's ear, Marguerite beckoned to
Gillonne, and the four turned into this cross path and went and hid
behind the shrubbery nearest to the place where the scene which they
evidently expected to witness was to take place. It was about thirty
yards, as we have already said, from the spot where Coconnas in a state
of ecstasy was gesticulating before the admiral.

Marguerite dismounted, Madame de Nevers and Gillonne did the same; the
captain then got down and took the bridles of the four horses. Thick
green furnished the three women a seat such as princesses often seek in
vain. The glade before them was so open that they would not miss the
slightest detail.

La Mole had accomplished his circuit. He rode up slowly and took his
stand behind Coconnas; then stretching out his hand tapped him on the
shoulder.

The Piedmontese turned round.

"Oh!" said he, "so it was not a dream! You are still alive!"

"Yes, sir," replied La Mole; "yes, I am still alive. It is no fault of
yours, but I am still alive."

"By Heaven! I know you again well enough," replied Coconnas, "in spite
of your pale face. You were redder than that the last time we met!"

"And I," said La Mole, "I also recognize you, in spite of that yellow
line across your face. You were paler than that when I made that mark
for you!"

Coconnas bit his lips, but, evidently resolved on continuing the
conversation in a tone of irony, he said:

"It is curious, is it not, Monsieur de la Mole, particularly for a
Huguenot, to be able to look at the admiral suspended from that iron
hook? And yet they say there are people extravagant enough to accuse us
of killing even small Huguenots, sucklings."

"Count," said La Mole, bowing, "I am no longer a Huguenot; I have the
happiness of being a Catholic!"

"Bah!" exclaimed Coconnas, bursting into loud laughter; "so you are a
convert, sir? Oh, that was clever of you!"

"Sir," replied La Mole, with the same seriousness and the same
politeness, "I made a vow to become a convert if I escaped the
massacre."

"Count," said the Piedmontese, "that was a very prudent vow, and I beg
to congratulate you. Perhaps you made still others?"

"Yes, I made