"Nay, nay," answered her lover; "take not such a gloomy view of it, dear one; there are always small obstacles to every scheme; but these will soon be removed, and all will go well." "God grant it," said Rose d'Albret; but even as she spoke, she drew back farther within the arch, saying, "Hush! there are figures upon the wall." "Stand, give the word," cried a sentinel above. "I forget it," replied the voice of Chazeul; "but you know me, my man?--You know Monsieur de Chazeul?" "I know no one without the word," replied the soldier. "Stand off, or you are a dead man!" "Dare you be so insolent?" exclaimed Chazeul. "Who commands the guard to-night?" "I do my duty, Sir," replied the soldier; "so stand back, I say! It is Monsieur de l'Estoc's guard." "I thought so," replied Chazeul; "like master like man. Go, and call him. Sir." "Not I," answered the soldier; "I do not quit my post for any one. You can call him yourself, if you want him." "I will," replied Chazeul sternly; "and have you punished for your insolence;" and, turning back along the wall, he proceeded to search for Estoc. CHAPTER XIV. The small evils of life, against which, in the narrowness of our views, and the idleness of our heart, we so often pray, as if they were as hideous as unmasked sin, how often do they work for us the greatest benefits in ways we never dreamt of!--how often do they even forward us in the very course they seemed likely to obstruct! There is not a hair of our head that is not numbered; there is not a sparrow falls to the ground unmarked; so we were told by Him who is Truth; and surely there is not an act or incident of our life that has not its end and object in the great scheme of our being, and in the greater scheme of universal nature. Pleasant is it, and sweet to contemplate, for the eye of faith, that all is ruled and directed to its fixed purpose by Almighty wisdom, and infinite goodness. "He is gone!" whispered De Montigni to Rose d'Albret, as Chazeul strode away. "You see it is fortunate, dear girl, that we did not find the sally port open, or we should have been passing just at the moment he was upon the walls above. He could not have stayed us, it is true, for we have a large party in the castle; but it might have occasioned strife, and that I would fain avoid." "Oh yes, yes!" said Rose. "God grant that we may escape that,--but hark! it is raining, Louis." "That is unlucky," replied De Montigni. Yet, in truth, it was far from unfortunate for the success of their scheme. The large drops which began to descend in a heavy shower, soon changed the purpose of Nicholas de Chazeul, who was lightly clothed, and somewhat careful of his own person; and instead of seeking Estoc, as he had intended, he hurried back to his own chamber, cast off his wet clothes, and retired to bed, keeping his indignation for the following morning.