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think we had always fancied some accident would save our friend； some
stranger warn him。
〃Oh； poor； poor Kit！〃 Croisette cried； bursting suddenly into violent
sobs。 〃Oh； Kit！ Kit！〃
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CHAPTER X。
HAU； HAU； HUGUENOTS！
His late Majesty； Henry the Fourth； I rememberthan whom no braver
man wore sword； who loved danger indeed for its own sake； and courted it
as a mistresscould never sleep on the night before an action。 I have
heard him say himself that it was so before the fight at Arques。 Croisette
partook of this nature too； being high…strung and apt to be easily over…
wrought； but never until the necessity for exertion had passed away：
while Marie and I； though not a whit stouter at a pinch； were slower to feel
and less easy to movemore Germanic in fact。
I name this here partly lest it should be thought after what I have just
told of Croisette that there was anything of the woman about himsave the
tenderness； and partly to show that we acted at this crisis each after his
manner。 'While Croisette turned pale and trembled； and hid his eyes； I
stood dazed； looking from the desolate house to the face stiffening in the
sunshine； and back again； wondering； though I had seen scores of dead
faces since daybreak； and a plenitude of suffering in all dreadful shapes；
how Providence could let this happen to us。 To us！ In his instincts man
is as selfish as any animal that lives。
I saw nothing indeed of the dead face and dead house after the first
convincing glance。 I saw instead with hot； hot eyes the old castle at
home； the green fields about the brook； and the grey hills rising from them；
and the terrace； and Kit coming to meet us； Kit with white face and parted
lips and avid eyes that questioned us！ And we with no comfort to give
her； no lover to bring back to her！
A faint noise behind as of a sign creaking in the wind； roused me from
this most painful reverie。 I turned round； not quickly or in surprise or
fear。 Rather in the same dull wonder。 The upper part of the bookseller's
door was ajar。 It was that I had heard opened。 An old woman was
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peering out at us。
As our eyes met； she made a slight movement to close the door again。
But I did not stir； and seeming to be reassured by a second glance； she
nodded to me in a stealthy fashion。 I drew a step nearer； listlessly。 〃Pst！
Pst！〃 she whispered。 Her wrinkled old face； which was like a
Normandy apple long kept； was soft with pity as she looked at Croisette。
〃Pst！〃
〃Well！〃 I said； mechanically。
〃Is he taken？〃 she muttered。
〃Who taken？〃 I asked stupidly。
She nodded towards the forsaken house； and answered； 〃The young
lord who lodged there？ Ah！ sirs；〃 she continued； 〃he looked gay and
handsome； if you'll believe me； as he came from the king's court yester
even！ As bonny a sight in his satin coat； and his ribbons； as my eyes ever
saw！ And to think that they should be hunting him like a rat to…day！〃
The woman's words were few and simple。 But what a change they
made in my world！ How my heart awoke from its stupor； and leapt up
with a new joy and a new…born hope！ 〃Did he get away？〃 I cried
eagerly。 〃Did he escape； mother； then？〃
〃Ay； that。 he did！〃 she replied quickly。 〃That poor fellow； yonder…
…he lies quiet enough now God forgive him his heresy； say I！kept the
door manfully while the gentleman got on the roof； and ran right down the
street on the tops of the houses； with them firing and hooting at him： for
all the world as if he had been a squirrel and they a pack of boys with
stones！〃
〃And he escaped？〃
〃Escaped！〃 she answered more slowly； shaking her old head in doubt。
〃I do not know about that I fear they have got him by now； gentlemen。 I
have been shivering and shaking up stairs with my husbandhe is in bed；
good man； and the safest place for him the saints have mercy upon us！
But I heard them go with their shouting and gunpowder right along to the
river； and I doubt they will take him between this and the CHATELET！ I
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doubt they will。〃
〃How long ago was it； dame？〃 I cried。
〃Oh！ may be half an hour。 Perhaps you are friends of his？〃 she
added questioningly。
But I did not stay to answer her。 I shook Croisette； who had not
heard a word of this； by the shoulder。 There is a chance that he has
escaped！〃 I cried in his ear。 Escaped； do you hear？〃 And I told him
hastily what she had said。
It was fine； indeed； and a sight； to see the blood rush to his cheeks； and
the tears dry in his eyes； and energy and decision spring to life in every
nerve and muscle of his face； 〃Then there is hope？〃 he cried； grasping
my arm。 〃Hope； Anne！ Come！ Come！ Do not let us lose another
instant。 If he be alive let us join him！〃
The old woman tried to detain us； but in vain。 Nay； pitying us； and
fearing； I think； that we were rushing on our deaths； she cast aside her
caution； and called after us aloud。 We took no heed； running after
Croisette； who had not waited for our answer； as fast as young limbs could
carry us down the street。 The exhaustion we had felt a moment before
when all seemed lost be it remembered that we had not been to bed or
tasted food for many hoursfell from us on the instant； and was clean
gone and forgotten in the joy of this respite。 Louis was living and for the
moment had escaped。
Escaped！ But for how long？ We soon had our answer。 The
moment we turned the corner by the river…side； the murmur of a multitude
not