stery of Iniquity."

"Oh, dreadful!" exclaimed the young lady. "Why, Cousin Nigel, you are a
rank heretic, and were you to express such opinions as these in public,
your life would be in danger. Hundreds of Frenchmen have already been
burned for holding opinions not half as bad as those you have expressed.
I am almost afraid to listen to you; not that we trouble ourselves much
about such matters at court, where people are allowed to think what they
like, provided they do not utter their thoughts too loudly, or in the
hearing of the doctors of the Sarbonne (the theological college of
France), who have of late become rigidly orthodox, and are resolved to
put down the reformers. I must advise you, at all events, to keep your
own counsel; and if you are still determined to apply to Admiral
Coligny, as your views agree with his, they will be in your favour."

"Thank you for your advice, sweet cousin," answered Nigel. "I will
follow it so far as not to parade my opinions; but should they be
attacked, I shall be ready, if necessary, to defend them either with my
tongue or my sword."

"You are not likely to be called upon to use either of those formidable
weapons, provided you are discreet," said the young lady, laughing.
"You may occasionally at court hear the Protestants satirised, or made
subjects of lampoons; but it would be folly to take notice of such
trivialities, and you would be in continual hot water with worthy
people, perfectly ready otherwise to treat you as a friend. I will
speak to some I know, who will assist your object and forward you to the
admiral, should you determine to seek his patronage."

"I would rather trust to so great and good a man than to any one else I
have heard of in France," said Nigel; "and am anxious, as soon as
possible, to make myself known to him."

By this time the young people had got within a few paces of the
termination of the shady walk, when before them appeared a gay company
of ladies and gentlemen, most of the former being very young, while the
latter were, on the contrary, advanced in life, as their snowy locks and
white beards betokened, though they were richly dressed, and were doing
their utmost to assume a youthful and _debonair_ manner. Nigel on
seeing the gay company instinctively drew back into a recess by the side
of the walk, unwilling, if possible, to present himself before them.
His cousin being ready to humour him, placed herself on a garden seat,
and invit