"Oh, forgive me, Monsieur le Comte," added La Renaudie, deeply moved by the noble and dignified bearing of Gabriel. "I had no wish to wound you, and I think I would doubt my own loyalty rather than yours." "Pray believe me, then," said Gabriel, "and do not hazard a useless and disastrous conflict. Surrender." "Impossible!" replied La Renaudie. "But reflect, I beg you," said Pardaillan, "that we are no more than a feeble advance-guard." "For Heaven's sake," retorted the Protestant leader, "do you suppose that my whole force consists of this handful of gallant fellows whom you see?" "I warn you," said Pardaillan, "that you have traitors in your ranks." "Well, they are in yours now," returned La Renaudie. "I will undertake to obtain your pardon from Monsieur de Guise," cried Pardaillan, who knew not which way to turn. "My pardon!" exclaimed La Renaudie; "I hope to be more concerned with granting than receiving pardons!" "Oh, La Renaudie! La Renaudie! Surely you do not wish to compel me to draw my sword against you,--Godefroy, my old comrade, my play-fellow?" "We must be prepared even for that, Pardaillan; for you know me too well to believe that I am inclined to yield the field to you." "Monsieur de la Renaudie," cried Gabriel, "once more I tell you that you are wrong." But he was rudely interrupted. The horsemen on both sides, Remaining apart, but in full view of one another, could not understand the meaning of all this parleying between their chiefs, and were burning with eagerness to come to closer quarters. "In God's name, what do they find to talk about at such length?" muttered the troopers of Pardaillan. "Ah!" said the Huguenots, "do they think that we came here to watch them while they talk over their private business?" "Wait a moment! wait!" said one of La Renaudie's band, in which every soldier was a leader, "I know a way to cut short their conversation;" and just as Gabriel began to speak, he fired a pistol-shot at the king's troops. "You see," cried Pardaillan, sorrowfully, "your people have struck the first blow!" "But without any order from me!" retorted La Renaudie, warmly. "However, the die is cast, and it makes no difference now. Forward, my friends, forward!" He turned toward his men as he spoke, and Pardaillan, not to be taken by surprise, did the same, and also shouted, "Forward!" The firing began. Gabriel, however, remained motionless between the red and the white, the Royalists and the rebels. He scarcely even drew his horse aside, but sustained the fire of both parties. At the first volley the plume of his helmet was cut through by a ball, and his horse killed under him. He extricated his feet from the stirrups and stood in the same spot without a tremor, and like one dreaming in the midst of that terrible affray. The supply of powder was soon exhausted; and the two little bands rushed forward, and continued the combat with their swords.