name mentioned, and I came
immediately. What can I do for you, gentlemen?"

"Aha! that name is magical, since it renders you so polite. Tell me,
maitre,--what's your name?"

"Maitre la Huriere," replied the host, bowing.

"Well, Maitre la Huriere, do you think my arm is lighter than the Duc de
Guise's, who makes you so civil?"

"No, Monsieur le Comte, but it is not so long," replied La Huriere;
"besides," he added, "I must tell you that the great Henry is the idol
of us Parisians."

"Which Henry?" asked La Mole.

"It seems to me there is only one," replied the landlord.

"You are mistaken; there is another, whom I desire you do not speak ill
of, and that is Henry of Navarre; and then there is Henry de Conde, who
has his share of merit."

"I do not know them," said the landlord.

"But I do; and as I am on my way to the King of Navarre, I desire you
not to speak slightingly of him before me."

The landlord replied by merely touching his cap, and continued to lavish
his assiduities on Coconnas:

"So monsieur is going to see the great Duc de Guise? Monsieur is a very
fortunate gentleman; he has come, no doubt, for"--

"What?" asked Coconnas.

"For the festivity," replied the host, with a singular smile.

"You should say for the festivities," replied Coconnas; "for Paris, I
hear, runs riot with festivals; at least there is nothing talked about
but balls, festivals, and orgies. Does not every one find plenty of
amusement?"

"A moderate amount, but they will have more soon, I hope."

"But the marriage of his majesty the King of Navarre has brought a great
many people to Paris, has it not?" said La Mole.

"A great many Huguenots--yes," replied La Huriere, but suddenly changing
his tone:

"Pardon me, gentlemen," said he, "perhaps you are of that religion?"

"I," cried Coconnas, "I am as good a Catholic as the pope himself."

La Huriere looked at La Mole, but La Mole did not or would not
comprehend him.

"If you do not know the King of Navarre, Maitre La Huriere," said La
Mole, "perhaps you know the admiral. I have heard he has some influence
at court, and as I have letters for him, perhaps you will tell me where
he lives, if his name does not take the skin off your lips."

"He _did_ live in the Rue de Bethizy down here at the right," replied
the landlord, with an inward satisfaction he could not conceal.

"He _did_ live?" exclaimed La Mole. "Has he changed his residence?"

"Yes--from this world, p