n me in that
respect, fearing an EMEUTE in Blois should your Majesty's plans become
known.'

'You speak fairly,' the king answered with returning energy, though he
avoided looking at the women. 'Bruhl is likely enough to raise one. But
how am I to get out, sir?' he continued, querulously. 'I cannot remain
here. I shall be missed, man! I am not a hedge-captain, neither sought
nor wanted!'

'If your Majesty would trust me?' I said slowly and with hesitation.

'Trust you!' he retorted peevishly, holding up his hands and gazing
intently at his nails, of the shape and whiteness of which he was
prouder than any woman. 'Have I not trusted you? If I had not trusted
you, should I have been here? But that you were a Huguenot--God forgive
me for saying it!--I would have seen you in hell before I would have
come here with you!'

I confess to having heard this testimony to the Religion with a pride
which made me forget for a moment the immediate circumstances--the peril
in which we stood, the gloomy room darkly lighted by a single candle,
the scared faces in the background, even the king's huddled figure, in
which dejection and pride struggled for expression. For a moment only;
then I hastened to reply, saying that I doubted not I could still
extricate his Majesty without discovery.

'In Heaven's name do it, then!' he answered sharply. 'Do what you like,
man! Only get me back into the castle, and it shall not be a Huguenot
will entice me out again. I am over old for these adventures!'

A fresh attack on the door taking place as he said this induced me to
lose no time in explaining my plan, which he was good enough to approve,
after again upbraiding me for bringing him into such a dilemma. Fearing
lest the door should give way prematurely, notwithstanding the bars
I had provided for it, and goaded on by Madame de Bruhl's face, which
evinced the utmost terror, I took the candle and attended his Majesty
into the inner room; where I placed my pistols beside him, but silently
resumed my sword and dagger. I then returned for the women, and
indicating by signs that they were to enter, held the door open for
them.

Mademoiselle, whose bandaged hand I could not regard without emotion,
though the king's presence and the respect I owed him forbade me to
utter so much as a word, advanced readily until she reached the doorway
abreast of me. There, however, looking back, and seeing Madame de Bruhl
following her, she stopped short, and da