Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-11-04

visited him on his siek-bed and sat BY
him for an hour together?
Surely, l thought, if there were
danger, these men would know of it.
And then the Huguenots' main enemy
Henri le Balafre, the splendid duke OF
Guise, 'our great man." and "Lor.
raine," rs the crowd called him-he, il
was rumcred. was in disgrace at court,
In word, these things, TO say nothing
of the peaceful and joyous occasion
which had brought the Huguenots to
Paris, and which seemed to put treach.
cry out of the question, were more than
enough TO prevent me forecasting the
event.
If for moment, indeed, as hurried
along towards the river, anything like
the truth occurred TO me. 1 put it from
me. l say with pride put it from me
as thing impossible. For God forbid
one may speak out the truth these 20
years bacl1-God forbid, say l, that all
Frenchmen should bear the hlood-gu;lt-
mess which came of other than French
brains, though French were the hands
that did the work.
| was not greatly troubled by nv
forebodings therefore; and the state
Of eSaltation to which Mime. d'O's con-
lidence had raised my spirits lasted
until one of the narrow streets by the
Louvre brought me suddenly within
sight of the river. Here faint moon
light bursting momentarily through
the clouds was shining on the placid
surface of the water. The fresh air
played upon, and cooled my temples.
And this, with the quiet scene so
abruptly presented to me, gave check
TO my thoughts, and somewhat sobered
me.
At some distance to my left l could
distinguish in the middle of the river
the pile of buildings which crowd the
lie de la Cite, and could follow the near
er arm OF the stream as it swept land
wards of these, closely hemmed in by
houses but unbroken as vet by the
arches of the Pont Neuf which / have
lived to see built. Not far from me on
my right-indeed, within stones
throw 1.-The bulky mass Of the Louvre
rose dark and shapeless against the
sky. Only narrow open space-the
foreshore-serarated me from the
water; beyond which l could see an ir-
regular line of buildings, that no doubt
formed the Faubourg ST. German.
| had been told that l should find
stairs leading down 10 the water, and
boats moored at the foot of them, at
this point. Accordingly l walked
quickly across the open space to a spot,
where | made out couple of posts set
up on the brink-doubtless to mark the
landing place
l had not gone ten poces, however,
out of the shadow, before CHANGED TO
look round, and discerned with an un-
pleasant eerie feeling three figures
detach themselves from il, and advance
in row behind me, so as the better to
cut of my retreat. was not to succeed
in my enterprise too easily, then. That
was clear. Still 1 thought it better TO
act as if | had not seen my followers.
and collecting myself, | walked as
quickly as l could down to the steps.
The three were by that time close upon
lne&within striking distance almost.
l turned abruptly and confronted them.
Who are you, and what do you
want?' / said cycling them warily, my
hand on my sword.
They did not answer, but separated
more widely, SO as to form a half
circle; and one of them whistled. On
the instant knot of men started out
of the line of houses, and came quickly
across the strip of light towards us.
The position seemed serious. If L
could have run. indeed hut | glanced
round, and found escape in that fashion
impossible. There were men crouch
ing on the steps behind me, between me
and the river. had fallen into a trap.
Indeed, there was nothing for it now
but to do as madame had hidden me,
and play the man boldly. l had the
words still ringing in my ears. / had
enough of the excitement l had lately
felt still bounding in my veins to give
nerve and daring. L folded my arms
and drew myself up.
"Knaves!" l said, with Us much quiet
contempt as could muster. .'you mis-
take me. You do not know whom you
have to deal with. Get me boat, and
let two of you row me across. Hinder
me. and your necks shall answer for it
or your backs!"
A laugh and an oath of derision
formed the only response. and before
| could add more the larger group ar
rived, and joined the three.
"Who is it, Pierre % asked one of these
in matter-of-fact way. which showed
l had not fallen amongst mere thieves.
The speaker seemed to be the leader
of the band. He had feather in his
bonnet, and / saw steel corselet CLEAN
under his cloak, when some one held up
a lanthorn to examine me the better.
His trunk-hose were striped with black,
white and green-the livery as /
learned afterwards of monsieur the
kings brother, the duke of Anjou, aft
erwards Henry the Third; then a close