ed him from the first, and believed he was
one of those who attacked Devine. Did he recover?"

"Yes; he is in Rochelle, fretting and fuming at having been prevented
from fulfilling his mission. But to return to our own affairs. Have you
considered what this proclamation means?"

"That your life is in danger."

"A bagatelle, Edmond. It has been in danger these many years. There is
something far more serious. As a traitor to the king, my estates are
forfeit, and you will grow up to see another man master of the land
which by right is yours. It is a heavy price for you to pay, my boy."

Now I hold it folly to pretend that this caused me no grief, but I was
young and enthusiastic, and sensible enough to know that any sign of
sorrow would add to my father's unhappiness. So I looked straight into
his eyes and said brightly, "Others have paid a heavy price for their
faith without murmuring; I am strong enough to do the same."

He held me in his arms and kissed my cheeks, saying: "Now God bless and
reward you for those brave words, my son," and never before in all my
life had I seen him so deeply moved.

CHAPTER VI

The Unknown Cavalier

My father had already accepted the Admiral's kind offer, so, after a few
days of idleness, I began my new duties, meeting with a genial reception
from my future comrades, several of whom were but a little older than
myself.

Every day now some fresh note of alarm sounded. The king withdrew the
privileges he had granted to those of the Religion, and from several
quarters we learned that civil war in all but the name had broken out
afresh. It was said, too, that the king had given command of the royal
army to his brother, the Duke of Anjou, with orders to exterminate us,
root and branch.

"Anjou!" laughed my comrade, "why, he is only a boy! He should be doing
his lessons. Has the king provided him with a nurse?"

"Yes," I replied, "he will find Marshal Tavannes a very capable nurse."

"Oh, that is the way of it, eh? Faith, 'tis a good plan, for, see you,
Edmond, if there be any glory 'twill go to Anjou, while Tavannes can
take the discredit. A capital arrangement--that is, from Monseigneur's
point of view!"

Meanwhile numbers of Huguenot gentlemen with their retainers were
arriving at Rochelle, and our leaders were soon able to muster a
respectable little army.

"Anjou must make haste if he wishes to cover himself with glory," said
Felix one morning. "The Queen of Navarr