myself. "And in peace time too--the villains! Gil! Francis!" I
shouted, "where are you?"

And I looked round for my fowling piece, while Croisette jumped
on the wall, and forming a trumpet with his hands, shrieked at
the top of his voice, "Back! he bears a letter from the
Vicomte!"

But the device did not succeed, and I could not find my gun. For
a moment we were helpless, and before I could have fetched the
gun from the house, the horseman and the hooting rabble at his
heels, had turned a corner and were hidden by the roofs.

Another turn however would bring them out in front of the
gateway, and seeing this we hurried down the ramp to meet them.
I stayed a moment to tell Gil to collect the servants, and, this
keeping me, Croisette reached the narrow street outside before
me. As I followed him I was nearly knocked down by the rider,
whose face was covered with, dirt and blood, while fright had
rendered his horse unmanageable. Darting aside I let him pass
--he was blinded and could not see me--and then found that
Croisette--brave lad! had collared the foremost of the ruffians,
and was beating him with his sheathed sword, while the rest of
the rabble stood back, ashamed, yet sullen, and with anger in
their eyes. A dangerous crew, I thought; not townsmen, most of
them.

"Down with the Huguenots!" cried one, as I appeared, one bolder
than the rest.