But on that the men turned savagely upon us. They did not thank us for the part we had already taken; and this they thought was going too far. They were half drunk and quarrelsome, and being two to one, and two over, began to flourish their weapons in our faces. Mischief would certainly have been done, and very quickly, had not an unexpected ally appeared on our side. "Put up! put up!" this gentleman cried in a boisterous voice--he was already in our midst. "What is all this about? What is the use of fighting amongst ourselves, when there is many a bonny throat to cut, and heaven to be gained by it! put up, I say!" "Who are you?" they roared in chorus. "The Duke of Guise!" he answered coolly. "Let the gentlemen go, and be hanged to you, you rascals!" The man's bearing was a stronger argument than his words, for I am sure that a stouter or more reckless blade never swaggered in church or street. I knew him instantly, and even the crew of butchers seemed to see in him their master. They hung back a few curses at him, but having nothing to gain they yielded. They threw down the books with contempt--showing thereby their sense of true religion; and trooped off roaring, "TUES! TUES! Aux Huguenots!" at the top of their voices. The newcomer thus left with us was Bure--Blaise Bure--the same who only yesterday, though it seemed months and months back, had lured us into Bezers' power. Since that moment we had not seen him. Now he had wiped off part of the debt, and we looked at him, uncertain whether to reproach him or no. He, however, was not one whit abashed, but returned our regards with a not unkindly leer. "I bear no malice, young gentlemen," he said impudently. "No, I should think not," I answered. "And besides, we are quits now," the knave continued. "You are very kind," I said. "To be sure. You did me a good turn once," he answered, much to my surprise. He seemed to be in earnest now. "You do not remember it, young gentleman, but it was you and your brother here"--he pointed to Croisette--"did it! And by the Pope and the King of Spain I have not forgotten it!" "I have," I said. "What! You have forgotten spitting that fellow at Caylus ten days ago? CA! SA! You remember. And very cleanly done, too! A pretty stroke! Well, M. Anne, that was a clever fellow, a very clever fellow. He thought so and I thought so, and what was more to the purpose the most noble Raoul de Bezers thought so too. You understand!" He leered at me and I did understand. I understood that unwittingly I had rid Blaise Bure of a rival. This accounted for the respectful, almost the kindly way in which he had--well, deceived us. "That is all," he said. "If you want as much done for you, let me know. For the present, gentlemen, farewell!" He cocked his hat fiercely, and went off at speed the way we had ourselves been going; humming as he went,