went in with quick, rapid steps, and bundles
of documents under their arms, and every now and again a messenger
would hurry forth, and we could hear the clattering of his horse's
hoofs as he galloped away.

De Lorges, the captain of the Archer Guard, joined us just as one of
the express riders hurried past.

"I wager a hundred pistoles against a flask of Joue that means an end
of the Spanish peace," he said, with a laugh, and rubbing his hands
together. "I am sick of these rusting times. They say that Coligny
has attacked Douai already. Ah! here he comes!"

He turned as he spoke towards the entrance of the gallery, and at once
the subdued hum of voices stilled to silence, and the crowd of gaily
clad courtiers parted, making way with low bows for someone who had
just entered. For a second I thought it was the King himself; but a
look showed me not the King but the stern figure of the Constable of
France.

Montmorenci walked up the gallery, glancing to the right and left of
him from under his bushy white brows, now and then returning a
salutation. He was in complete mail, all except his helmet, which was
borne by a page behind him, and his sinister appearance accorded well
with his terrible fame. He was of middle height, with broad and
prominent shoulders, and hair as white as snow. His face, tanned to a
dark brown by constant exposure, was stern, and yet sad, with fierce,
bloodshot eyes set far back in his head, and the grimness of his
countenance was enhanced by the two projecting teeth which stuck out
from his lower jaw like a boar's tusks.

He came forward slowly, bearing himself with princely dignity, and when
he got near to us he stopped, and addressing Lorgnac, whom he knew,
inquired:

"From Douai?"

"No, monseigneur; from Paris."

"I must ask the Queen to spare me her hard riders," replied
Montmorenci, with a grim smile, as he pointed at our dust-soiled
apparel, and passed on into the council room.

"It is war, as sure as I stand here," exclaimed De Lorges; and at once
a hubbub of voices arose, in the midst of which Carnavalet appeared,
and beckoned to us. It took us a little time to reach him, but on our
doing so he passed us through the door at once, entering with us, and
closing it after him. Then pointing to the curtains before him, he
said:

"The King awaits you there, messieurs. Enter!"

So tremendous was the issue for me that now that the crisis had come I
felt for the moment almos