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voice less heeded。 A righteous retribution indeed had overtaken him。
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He had died by the sword he had drawn died； a priest； by violence！ The
cross he had renounced had crushed him。 And all his schemes and
thoughts； and no doubt they had been many； had perished with him。 It
had come to this； only this； the sum of the whole matter； that there was one
wicked man the less in Parisone lump of breathless clay the more。
For herthe woman on his breastwhat man can judge a woman；
knowing her？ And not knowing her； how much less？ For the present I
put her out of my mind； feeling for the moment faint and cold。
We were clear of the crowd； and clattering unmolested down a paved
street before I fully recovered from the shock which this sight had caused
me。 Wonder whither we were going took its place。 To Bezers' house？
My heart sank at the prospect if that were so。 Before I thought of an
alternative； a gateway flanked by huge round towers appeared before us；
and we pulled up suddenly； a confused jostling mass in the narrow way；
while some words passed between the Vidame and the Captain of the
Guard。 A pause of several minutes followed； and then the gates rolled
slowly open； and two by two we passed under the arch。 Those gates
might have belonged to a fortress or a prison； a dungeon or a palace； for
all I knew。
They led； however； to none of these； but to an open space； dirty and
littered with rubbish； marked by a hundred ruts and tracks； and fringed
with disorderly cabins and make…shift booths。 And beyond thisoh； ye
gods！ the joy of itbeyond this； which we crossed at a rapid trot； lay the
open country！
The transition and relief were so wonderful that I shall never forget
them。 I gazed on the wide landscape before me； lying quiet and peaceful
in the sunlight； and could scarce believe in my happiness。 I drew the
fresh air into my lungs； I threw up my sheathed sword and caught it again
in a frenzy of delight； while the gloomy men about me smiled at my
enthusiasm。 I felt the horse beneath me move once more like a thing of
life。 No enchanter with his wand； not Merlin nor Virgil； could have made
a greater change in my world； than had the captain of the gate with his
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simple key！ Or so it seemed to me in the first moments of freedom； and
escapeof removal from those loathsome streets。
I looked back at Parisat the cloud of smoke which hung over the
towers and roofs； and it seemed to me the canopy of hell itself。 I fancied
that my head still rang with the cries and screams and curses； the sounds
of death。 In very fact； I could hear the dull reports of firearms near the
Louvre； and the jangle of the bells。 Country…folk were congregated at the
cross…roads； and in the villages； listening and gazing； asking timid
questions of the more good…natured among us； and showing that the
rumour of the dreadful work doing in the town had somehow spread
abroad。 And this though I learned afterwards that the keys of the city had
been taken the night before to the king； and that； except a party with the
Duke of Guise； who had left at eight in pursuit of Montgomery and some
of the Protestantslodgers； happily for themselves； in the Faubourg St。
Germainno one had left the town before ourselves。
While I am speaking of our departure from Paris； I may say what I
have to say of the dreadful excesses of those days； ay； and of the following
days； excesses of which France is now ashamed； and for which she
blushed even before the accession of his late Majesty。 I am sometimes
asked； as one who witnessed them； what I think； and I answer that it was
not our country which was to blame。 A something besides Queen
Catherine de' Medici had been brought from Italy forty years before； a
something invisible but very powerful； a spirit of cruelty and treachery。
In Italy it had done small harm。 But grafted on French daring and
recklessness； and the rougher and more soldierly manners of the north； this
spirit of intrigue proved capable of very dreadful things。 For a time； until
it wore itself out； it was the curse of France。 Two Dukes of Guise；
Francis and Henry； a cardinal of Guise； the Prince of Conde； Admiral
Coligny； King Henry the Third all these the foremost men of their day
died by assassination within little more than a quarter of a century； to say
nothing of the Prince of Orange； and King Henry the Great
Then marka most curious thingthe extreme youth of those who
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were in this business。 France； subject to the Queen…Mother； of course；
was ruled at the time by boys scarce out of their tutors' hands。 They were
mere lads； hot…blooded； reckless nobles； ready for any wild brawl； without
forethought or prudence。 Of the four Frenchmen who it is thought took
the leading parts； one； the king； was twenty…two； Monsieur； his brother；
was only twenty； the Duke of Guise was twenty…one。 Only the Marshal
de Tavannes was of mature age。 For the other conspirators； for the
Queen…Mother； for her advisers Retz and Nevers and Birague； they were
Italians； and Italy may answer for them if Florence； Mantua and Milan
care to raise the glove。
To return to our journey。 A league from the town we halted at a large
inn； and some of us dismounted。 Horses were brought out to fill the
places of those lost or left behind； and Bure had food served to us。 We
were famished and exhausted； and ate it ravenously； as if we could never
have enough。
The Vidame sat his horse apart； served by his page； I stole a glance at
him； and it struck me that even on his iron nature the events of the night
ha