will be others; and, Edmond, do not waste too much time between Le Blanc
and La Rochelle."

"Unless I am laid by the heels," I answered laughing, "I shall be at
Rochelle shortly after you!"




CHAPTER V

A Traitor to the King


It was on the evening of the first day in August, 1568, that I rode into
the village of Le Blanc. All day long a pitiless sun had been beating
down on the arid earth, with not one freshening breeze to temper the
intense heat, and even now not a breath of air stirred so much as a
solitary leaf on the trees.

My poor beast dragged wearily along, and his fatigue was scarcely
greater than my own.

"Good old fellow!" I said, stroking his neck affectionately, "a few
hundred yards more and we shall be at home. Food and water, clean straw,
and a shady place for you. Ha, ha, old fellow, that makes you prick up
your ears!"

We trailed along the sun-baked street; the door of every house was wide
open; the villagers, men, women, and children sprawled listlessly in the