Not long since he had risked his life a hundred times to save or to avenge, it might be his father or his beloved Diane,--oh, memories forever bleeding in that wounded heart!--and now, in default of those cherished beings, he would have been glad to struggle in defence of sacred ideas,-- His country in his father's place; his religion in place of his love. Alas, alas! it is in vain to talk, for it is not the same thing; and enthusiasm for abstract principles can never equal, either in its suffering or its delight, the enthusiasm of fondness for our fellow-creatures. But yet for one or the other of these two causes, the Reformation or France, Gabriel would have been content to sacrifice his life; and he relied upon one of them to bring about the desired termination of his career. On the morning of the 6th of March Gabriel was leaning back in his chair in the corner of his fireplace, brooding over the thoughts which had become his very life, when Aloyse brought in to him a messenger, booted and spurred and covered with mud, as if he had just travelled a long way. It was a rainy morning. The courier had just arrived from Amboise, under a strong escort, the bearer of several letters from Monsieur le Duc de Guise, lieutenant-general of the kingdom. One of the letters was addressed to Gabriel, and its contents were as follows:-- MY DEAR COMPANION,--I am writing this to you in great haste, with neither leisure nor possibility of explaining myself. You told the king and myself that you were devoted to us, and that if ever we were in need of your devoted service, we had only to call upon you. We do call upon you to-day. Set out at once for Amboise, where the king and queen are now installed for some weeks. I will tell you on your arrival in what way you can be of use. It is always understood that you are quite at liberty to act or to hold aloof. Your zeal is too valuable for me to wish to make a bad use of it, or compromise you. But whether you are with us or prefer to remain neutral, I should think I was neglecting a duty if I failed to have confidence in you. Come, therefore, in all haste, and you will be, as always, most welcome. Your affectionate friend, FRANÇOIS DE LORRAINE. Amboise, the 4th March, 1560. P.S. Herewith is a safe-conduct, for use in case you should be questioned _en route_ by some royal troop. The messenger from the Duc de Guise had already departed to execute his other commissions when Gabriel finished the letter. The eager youth rose at once, and said without hesitation to the nurse,-- "Good Aloyse, call André, please, and tell him to have the dapple-gray saddled and to prepare my travelling wallet." "Are you going away, Monseigneur?" the good woman asked. "Yes, nurse, to Amboise, within two hours." There was nothing more to be said; and Aloyse, without a word, went sadly from the room to see that her young master's orders were carried out.