asily."

I did not understand his meaning, but the very next day, as we were
proceeding on our journey, the Admiral came to my side.

"Bellievre tells me," he said, "that you wish to join my household!"

"My lord," I replied, flushing crimson--for this speech was very
startling and unexpected--"I can hardly credit that such honour is
within my reach."

"There is no honour to which the son of the Sieur Le Blanc cannot
aspire," he said, "and you have already proved yourself a brave lad. But
first you must lay the proposal before your father; if he consents, you
will find me at my house in Rochelle. We pass, I believe, within a day
or two's march of Le Blanc. Is your purse empty?"

"No, my lord, I thank you; I have sufficient for my needs."

"Very well; you know where to find me, but I warrant Bellievre will be
looking out for you!"

"I shall watch for him eagerly, my lord," interposed Felix; "he is too
good a comrade to be lost."

"I owe this to your kindness, Felix," I remarked when the Admiral had
ridden off.

"Not kindness, my friend, but selfishness. I was thinking not so much
of you, as of Felix Bellievre. I foresee many happy days in store for
us, Edmond."

"Like the one at Sancerre, for instance!"

"Ah," he replied brightly, "that is a day to be marked in red. But there
will be others; and, Edmond, do not waste too much time between Le Blanc
and La Rochelle."

"Unless I am laid by the heels," I answered laughing, "I shall be at
Rochelle shortly after you!"

CHAPTER V

A Traitor to the King

It was on the evening of the first day in August, 1568, that I rode into
the village of Le Blanc. All day long a pitiless sun had been beating
down on the arid earth, with not one freshening breeze to temper the
intense heat, and even now not a breath of air stirred so much as a
solitary leaf on the trees.

My poor beast dragged wearily along, and his fatigue was scarcely
greater than my own.

"Good old fellow!" I said, stroking his neck affectionately, "a few
hundred yards more and we shall be at home. Food and water, clean straw,
and a shady place for you. Ha, ha, old fellow, that makes you prick up
your ears!"

We trailed along the sun-baked street; the door of every house was wide
open; the villagers, men, women, and children sprawled listlessly in the
coolest places, hardly raising their eyes at the beat of my horse's
hoofs.

But those who did glance up gazed at me curiously, and once or t