Part 23 (1/2)

”Not to say,” added the host, ”that he has won fifty crowns from you.”

”True,” said Coconnas; ”but fairly, I am sure.”

”Fairly or not, you must pay them, while, if I kill him, you are quits.”

”Come, come!” cried Maurevel; ”make haste, gentlemen, an arquebuse-shot, a rapier-thrust, a blow with a mallet, a stroke with any weapon you please; but get done with it if you wish to reach the admiral's in time to help Monsieur de Guise as we promised.”

Coconnas sighed.

”I'll make haste!” cried La Huriere, ”wait for me.”

”By Heaven!” cried Coconnas, ”he will put the poor fellow to great pain, and, perhaps, rob him. I must be present to finish him, if requisite, and to prevent any one from touching his money.”

And impelled by this happy thought, Coconnas followed La Huriere upstairs, and soon overtook him, for according as the landlord went up, doubtless as the effect of reflection, he slackened his pace.

As he reached the door, Coconnas still following, many gunshots were discharged in the street. Instantly La Mole was heard to leap out of bed and the flooring creaked under his feet.

”_Diable!_” muttered La Huriere, somewhat disconcerted; ”that has awakened him, I think.”

”It looks like it,” observed Coconnas.

”And he will defend himself.”

”He is capable of it. Suppose, now, Maitre la Huriere, he were to kill you; that would be droll!”

”Hum, hum!” responded the landlord, but knowing himself to be armed with a good arquebuse, he took courage and dashed the door in with a vigorous kick.

La Mole, without his hat, but dressed, was entrenched behind his bed, his sword between his teeth, and his pistols in his hands.

”Oho!” said Coconnas, his nostrils expanding as if he had been a wild beast smelling blood, ”this grows interesting, Maitre la Huriere.

Forward!”

”Ah, you would a.s.sa.s.sinate me, it seems!” cried La Mole, with glaring eyes; ”and it is you, wretch!”

Maitre la Huriere's reply to this was to take aim at the young man with his arquebuse; but La Mole was on his guard, and as he fired, fell on his knees, and the ball flew over his head.

”Help!” cried La Mole; ”help, Monsieur de Coconnas!”

”Help, Monsieur de Maurevel!--help!” cried La Huriere.

”_Ma foi!_ Monsieur de la Mole,” replied Coconnas, ”all I can do in this affair is not to join the attack against you. It seems all the Huguenots are to be put to death to-night, in the King's name. Get out of it as well as you can.”

”Ah, traitors! a.s.sa.s.sins!--is it so? Well, then, take this!” and La Mole, aiming in his turn, fired one of his pistols. La Huriere, who had kept his eye on him, dodged to one side; but Coconnas, not antic.i.p.ating such a reply, stayed where he was, and the bullet grazed his shoulder.

”By Heaven!” he exclaimed, grinding his teeth; ”I have it. Well, then, let it be we two, since you will have it so!”

And drawing his rapier, he rushed on La Mole.

Had he been alone La Mole would, doubtless, have awaited his attack; but Coconnas had La Huriere to aid him, who was reloading his gun, and Maurevel, who, responding to the innkeeper's invitation, was rus.h.i.+ng up-stairs four steps at a time.