"One moment," cried Lenet, to gain time; "one moment, Monsieur le Duc! We are escorting Monsieur de Canolles to his death, are we not?" The duke made a gesture of surprise, and Canolles looked wonderingly at Lenet. "Why, yes," said the duke. "Very good!" rejoined Lenet, "in that case the gallant gentleman cannot do without a confessor." "Pardon me, pardon me, monsieur," interposed Canolles; "I can do without one perfectly well." "How so?" Lenet asked, making signs to the prisoner which he would not understand. "Because I am a Huguenot," replied Canolles, "and a zealous Huguenot, too, I promise you. If you wish to confer one last favor upon me, I pray you let me die as I am." Even as he repelled the suggestion, the young man made a gesture of gratitude, which proved that he perfectly understood Lenet's purpose. "If there is no further cause for delay, let us be off," said the duke. "Make him confess! make him confess!" cried a few of the more vindictive bystanders. Canolles drew himself up to his full height, looked about him on all sides with a calm and confident glance, and said sternly to the duke:-- "Are we going to act like cowards, monsieur? Me-thinks that if any person has the right to follow out his desires, I, who am the hero of the fête, have that right, I refuse to see a confessor, but I demand the scaffold, and that at the earliest possible moment; 'tis my turn to be weary of waiting." "Silence!" cried the duke, turning to the crowd. When silence was restored in obedience to his potent voice and glance, he said to Canolles:-- "Monsieur you may do as you choose." "Thanks, monsieur. In that case, let us go, and quickly; may we not?" Lenet took Canolles' arm. "On the contrary, let us go slowly," said he. "Who knows? A reprieve, an occurrence that we cannot fore-see, are among the possibilities. Go slowly, I implore you in the name of her who loves you, and who will weep so bitterly if we go too fast." "Oh! do not speak to me of her, I entreat; all my courage vanishes at the thought that I am to be parted forever from her. But what am I saying? On the other hand, Monsieur Lenet, do speak of her, tell me again and again that she loves me, and will always love me, and above all, that she will weep for me!" "Come, come, my dear, unfortunate child," said Lenet, "do not give way to your feelings; remember that these men are looking at you, and that they know not of whom we are speaking." Canolles proudly raised his head, and his hair fell in wavy black curls about his neck. By this time they were in the street; the light of many torches shone upon his calm and smiling face. He could hear women weeping, and there were some who said:-- "Poor baron, so young and so fair!" They marched along for some time in silence; suddenly he exclaimed:-- "Oh! Monsieur Lenet, I would that I might see her once more!" "Do you wish me to go in search of her, and bring her to you?" asked Lenet, who had no longer any will of his own.