"

"Count," said La Mole with a bow, "I am no longer a Huguenot, I have the
honour to be a Catholic."

"Bah!" cried Coconnas, bursting into a laugh, "You are converted? How very
sly of you!"

"Sir," replied La Mole, with the same serious politeness, "I made a vow to
become a Catholic if I escaped the massacre."

"It was a very prudent vow," returned the Piedmontese, "and I congratulate
you on it; is it the only one you made?"

"No, sir, I made one other," replied La Mole, patting his horse with his
usual deliberate grace.

"And it was----" enquired Coconnas.

"To hang you up yonder, to that little hook which seems to be waiting for
you, just below Monsieur de Coligny."

"What!" cried Coconnas, "all alive, just as I am?"

"No, sir; after passing my sword through your body."

Coconnas became purple, and his grey eye flashed fire.

"Really," said he, with a sneer; "to yonder rail? You are not quite tall
enough for that, my little gentleman."

"Then I will get upon your horse," replied La Mole. "Ah! you think, my
dear M. Hannibal de Coconnas, that you may assassinate people with
impunity under the loyal and honourable pretext of being a hundred to one.
Not so. A day comes when every man finds his man, and for you that day is
come now. I am almost tempted to break your ugly head with a pistol shot;
but pshaw! I should perhaps miss you, for my hand still shakes with the
wounds you so treacherously gave me.

"My ugly head!" roared Coconnas, throwing himself off his horse. "On foot!
Monsieur le Compte--out with your blade!" And he drew his sword.

"I think your Huguenot called him ugly," whispered the Duchess of Nevers
to Margaret. "Do you find him so?"

"He is charming," cried Margaret laughing, "and Monsieur de la Mole's
anger renders him unjust. But hush! let us observe them."

La Mole got off his horse with as much deliberation as Coconnas had shown
haste, drew his sword, and put himself on guard.

"Ah!" cried he, as he extended his arm.

"Oh!" exclaimed Coconnas, as he stretched out his.

Both, it will be remembered, were wounded in the shoulder, and a sudden
movement still caused them acute suffering. A stifled laugh was audible
from behind the trees. The princesses had been unable to restrain it when
they saw the two champions rubbing their shoulders and grimacing with
pain. The laughed reached the ears of La Mole and Coconnas, who had been
hitherto unaware of the presence of witnesses, but who now