"It is I, count. My house is not attacked, and I have sent off your daughter, in charge of my man, to gain it along the roofs. We will follow them, as soon as we can beat back these villains." "The king's troops must arrive shortly," the count said. "The king's troops are here," Philip said. "This is done by his orders, and all Paris is in arms. The Admiral has already been murdered." The count gave a cry of fury, and threw himself upon his assailants. His companions did the same and, step by step, drove them backward down the stairs. There was a cry below of "Shoot them down!" and, a moment later, three or four arquebuses flashed out from the hall. The count, without a word, pitched forward among the soldiers; and two of the retainers also fell. Then the crowd surged up again. Philip fought desperately for a time. Another shot rang out, and he felt a sudden smart across his cheek. He turned and bounded up the stairs, paused a moment at the top, and discharged his two pistols at the leaders of the assailants; pulled to the door of the count's chamber, leaving the corridor in darkness, and then sprang up the stairs. When he reached the door of the unused room by which they had entered, he fastened it behind him, got through the window and closed it after him, and then rapidly made his way along the roofs, until he reached his own. Closing and fastening the casement, he ran down to his room. Claire was standing there, with Pierre by her side. She gave a low cry as he entered, alone. "My father!" she exclaimed. "God has taken him," Philip said, "as He has taken many others tonight. He died painlessly, mademoiselle, by a shot from below." Claire sank into a chair, and covered her face with her hands. "His will be done," she said, in a low but firm voice, as she looked up a minute later. "We are all in His hands, and can die but once. Will they soon come?" "I trust not," Philip said. "They may follow along the roof, when they cannot find us in any of the rooms; but they will have no clue as to which house we have entered." "I will remain here and wait for them," she said. "Then, mademoiselle, you will sacrifice our lives, as well as your own; for assuredly we shall not leave you. Thus far we have escaped and, if you will follow my directions, we may all escape together. Still, if you wish it, we can die here together." "What is to be done?" she asked, standing up. Pierre handed Philip a bundle. "I brought them down as I passed," he said. "This is a disguise," Philip said, handing it to the girl. "I pray you to put it on, at once. We also have disguises, and will return in them, in a few minutes." Chapter 21: Escape. "This is awful, Pierre," Philip said, as he hurriedly assumed the disguise the latter had prepared.