As Sully spoke the King threw his roquelaure over his arm and answered coldly, 'Monsieur, you are very good. When I want a guard I shall ask for one. I have yet to learn that Henri de Bourbon is to lurk in a corner whilst blows are going, and I shall lead the assault myself!' 'And the first shot from a window, fired by some _croquemort_, might leave France at the feet of Spain, I cut in bluntly, whilst de Vitry stamped his foot with vexation, and the forehead of the Grand-Master wrinkled and furrowed, though he gave me an approving look from under his shaggy brows. For a moment it was as if my words would have stayed the King. He looked at me fixedly and stabbed at the carpet with the point of his blade, repeating to himself, 'At the feet of Spain--Spain! Never!' he added, recovering himself and looking highly around. 'Never! Messieurs, we shall all yet see the lilies flaunting over the Escorial.' 'Amen!' exclaimed a voice from the darkness of the stairway, and I heard the grinding of a spurred heel on the woodwork of the floor. 'Come,' said the King, 'we have no time to lose, and if we delay longer that hot-head de Belin, will strike the first blow.' 'With your Majesty's permission, I will make an assault on the rear,' I said. 'On the rear!' exclaimed de Vitry, whilst the Grand-Master said, 'It is impossible!' But I only pointed to the window, and Henry laughed. '_Ventrebleu!_ I understand--a great idea! But, monsieur, take care how you give away a secret. I shall have no peace if Monseigneur the Grand-Master hears what has happened.' I was young enough still to feel my face grow hot at the approval in the King's voice, and then, without another word, they passed out, _tramp_, _tramp_, down the stairs, all except Sully, who stayed behind for a moment. 'Monsieur,' he asked, 'what has happened between you and the King?' 'His Majesty has pardoned me.' 'A child might see that. What else? Be quick!' 'And has given me orders to meet you as you enter the Toison d'Or.' The frown on his face cleared. 'Well answered, chevalier. The King, I see, has won a faithful and discreet friend. Make your attack when you hear the petard.' Then he, too, turned his broad shoulders on me and followed the rest. As the sound of the heavy footfalls ceased I gave a last look at my pistols, drew in my sword-belt by a hole, and, all booted as I was, essayed the ladder again. The practice I had with it made the ascent easy now, and perhaps it was this that rendered me careless, for, as I was climbing, my foot slipped with a grating noise, and as I stopped for a moment, with one leg over the parapet and the other trailing over the drop behind, I heard a quick 'What is that?' through the open skylight. The voice was the Marshal's, and I almost felt that I could see his nervous start and rapid upward glance as the scrabbling noise reached his ears. Then came Lafin's answer, in those cool tones that can penetrate so far: 'A cat--only a cat, monseigneur!'