As they went along, they came upon men with lighted torches; and saw that, in several of the streets, groups of men with torches were silently standing. "What is taking place?" the Sieur de Pascal asked one of the men. "There is going to be a night masque, and a mock combat at the Louvre," the man said. "It is strange. I heard nothing about it at the Louvre," Philip said, as they proceeded on their way. "I was with the King of Navarre up to ten o'clock and, had anything been known of it by him or the gentlemen with him, I should have been sure to have heard of it." They were joined by two or three other Huguenot gentlemen, roused by the unusual light and talking in the street; and they proceeded together to the Louvre. Large numbers of torches were burning in front of the palace, and a body of soldiers was drawn up there. "The man was right," the Sieur de Pascal said. "There is evidently some diversion going on here." As they approached they saw a movement in front, and then three or four men ran towards them. "Why, De Vignes," De Pascal exclaimed, as the first ran up, "what is the matter?" "That I do not know," De Vignes said. "I was roused half an hour ago by the lights and noise, and came down with De la Riviere, Maurepas, Castellon, and De Vigors, who lodges with me, to see what it was about. As we approached the soldiers, they began to jeer at us in a most insolent manner. Naturally we replied, and threatened to report them to their officers; when the insolent varlets drew and ran at us. Maurepas has, as you see, been wounded by a halbert; and as we five could not give battle to that crowd of soldiers, we ran for it. I shall lay the matter before La Rochefoucauld, and request him to make a complaint to the king. What can we do now, gentlemen?" "I see not that we can do anything," De Pascal said. "We have heard that these torchlight gatherings are part of a plan for a sham attack on a castle, or something of that sort, for the amusement of the king. Doubtless the soldiers are gathered for that purpose. We cannot arouse La Rochefoucauld, at this hour of the night, that is certain; so I see nothing to do but to go home, and wait till morning." "You do not think," Philip said, "that there is any possibility of a general attack upon us being intended?" "What! An attack got up at the Louvre, under the very eyes of the king, who is our firm friend? You are dreaming, Monsieur Fletcher." "I have one suspicious fact to go upon," Philip said quietly, and then related the discovery of the crosses upon the doors. The others, however, were absolutely incredulous that any treachery could be intended and, after talking for a short time, longer, they returned to their lodgings. "What is to be done now, Pierre?"