, remarkable for his white satin doublet, and the elegance of his
plume, after looking before him, and on either side, had at last looked
back and perceived the tall form of the Piedmontese, and the gigantic
profile of his horse, sharply defined against the evening sky, now
reddened by the last rays of the setting sun. Then the gentleman in the
white satin doublet left the road which the cavalcade was following,
struck into a side path, and describing a curve, returned towards the
gibbet. He had scarcely done this, when the Duchess of Nevers approached
the Queen of Navarre, and said--

"We were mistaken, Margaret, for the Piedmontese has remained behind, and
Monsieur de la Mole has followed him."

"_Mordi!_" cried Margaret laughing, "is it so? I confess that I shall not
be sorry to have to alter my opinion."

She then looked round, and saw La Mole returning towards the gallows.

It was now the turn of the two princesses to quit the cavalcade. The
moment was favourable for so doing, for they were just crossing a road
bordered by high hedges, by following which they would get to within
thirty paces of the gibbet. Madame de Nevers said a word to the captain of
her guards, Margaret made a sign to Gillonne, her tirewoman and confidant;
and these four persons took the cross road, and hastened to place
themselves in ambuscade behind some bushes near the spot they were
desirous of observing. There they dismounted, and the captain held the
horses, whilst the three ladies found a pleasant seat upon the close fresh
turf, with which the place was overgrown. An opening in the bushes enabled
them to observe the smallest details of what was passing.

La Mole had completed his circuit, and, walking up behind Coconnas, he
stretched out his hand and touched him on the shoulder. The Piedmontese
turned his head.

"Oh!" said he, "it was no dream then. You are still alive?"

"Yes, sir," replied La Mole, "I am still alive. It is not your fault, but
such is the case."

"_Mordieu!_ I recognise you perfectly," said Coconnas, "in spite of your
pale cheeks. You were redder than that the last time I saw you."

"And I recognise you also," said La Mole, "in spite of that yellow cut
across your face. You were paler than you are now when I gave it to you."

Coconnas bit his lips, but continued in the same ironical tone.

"It is curious, is it not, Monsieur de la Mole, particularly for a
Huguenot, to see the admiral hung up to that iron hook?