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certainly succeeded。
Kit crying softly went into the house； her innocent coquetry more than
sufficiently punished already。 And we three looked at one another with
blank faces； It was clear that we had made a dangerous enemy； and an
enemy at our own gates。 As the Vidame had said； these were troublous
times when things were done to menay； and to women and children
which we scarce dare to speak of now。 〃I wish the Vicomte were here；〃
Croisette said uneasily after we had discussed several unpleasant
contingencies。
〃Or even Malines the steward；〃 I suggested。
〃He would not be much good；〃 replied Croisette。
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〃And he is at St。 Antonin； and will not be back this week。 Father Pierre
too is at Albi。〃
〃You do not think；〃 said Marie； 〃that he will attack us？〃
〃Certainly not！〃 Croisette retorted with contempt。 〃Even the
Vidame would not dare to do that in time of peace。 Besides； he has not
half a score of men here；〃 continued the lad； shrewdly； 〃and counting old
Gil and ourselves we have as many。 And Pavannes always said that three
men could hold the gate at the bottom of the ramp against a score。 Oh；
he will not try that！〃
〃Certainly not！〃 I agreed。 And so we crushed Marie。 〃But for
Louis de Pavannes〃
Catherine interrupted me。 She came out quickly looking a different
person； her face flushed with anger； her tears dried。
〃Anne！〃 she cried； imperiously； 〃what is the matter down below
will you see？〃
I had no difficulty in doing that。 All the sounds of town life came up
to us on the terrace。 Lounging there we could hear the chaffering over
the wheat measures in the cloisters of the market…square； the yell of a dog；
the voice of a scold； the church bell； the watchman's cry。 I had only to
step to the wall to overlook it all。 On this summer afternoon the town
had been for the most part very quiet。 If we had not been engaged in our
own affairs we should have taken the alarm before； remarking in the
silence the first beginnings of what was now a very respectable tumult。 It
swelled louder even as we stepped to the wall。
We could seea bend in the street laying it openpart of the Vidame's
house； the gloomy square hold which had come to him from his mother。
His own chateau of Bezers lay far away in Franche Comte； but of late he
had shown a preferenceCatherine could best account for it； perhapsfor
this mean house in Caylus。 It was the only house in the town which did
not belong to us。 It was known as the House of the Wolf； and was a grim
stone building surrounding a courtyard。 Rows of wolves' heads carved in
stone flanked the windows； whence their bare fangs grinned day and night
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at the church porch opposite。
The noise drew our eyes in this direction； and there lolling in a
window over the door； looking out on the street with a laughing eye； was
Bezers himself。 The cause of his merrimentwe had not far to look for
itwas a horseman who was riding up the street under difficulties。 He
was reining in his steedno easy task on that steep greasy pavementso as
to present some front to a score or so of ragged knaves who were
following close at his heels； hooting and throwing mud and pebbles at him。
The man had drawn his sword； and his oaths came up to us； mingled with
shrill cries of 〃VIVE LA MESSE！〃 and half drowned by the clattering of
the horse's hoofs。 We saw a stone strike him in the face； and draw blood；
and heard him swear louder than before。
〃Oh！〃 cried Catherine； clasping her hands with a sudden shriek of
indignation； 〃my letter！ They will get my letter！〃
〃Death！〃 exclaimed Croisette； 〃She is right！ It is M。 de Pavannes'
courier！ This must be stopped！ We cannot stand this； Anne！〃
〃They shall pay dearly for it； by our Lady！〃 I cried swearing myself。
〃And in peace time toothe 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
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let him pass he was blinded and could not see meand then found that
Croisettebrave 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。
〃Down with the CANAILLE！〃 I retorted； sternly eyeing the ill…
looking ring。 〃Will you set yourselves above the king's peace； dirt that
you are？ Go back to your kennels！〃
The words were scarcely out of my mouth； before I saw that the fellow
whom Croisette was punishing had got hold of a dagger。 I shouted a
warning； but it came too late。 The blade fell； and thanks to God
striking the buckle of the lad's belt； glanced off harmless。 I saw the steel
flash up againsaw the spite in the man's eyes： but this time I was a step
nearer； and before the weapon fell； I