Count Hannibal

In comparison of the disorder which prevailed in the city, a deadly quiet

reigned here; a stillness so chill that a timid man must have stood and

hesitated to approach. But a stranger who about nightfall rode down the

street towards the entrance, a single footman running at his stirrup,

only nodded a stern approval of the preparations. As he drew nearer he

cast an attentive eye this way and that; nor stayed until a hoarse

challenge brought him up when he had come within six horses' lengths of

the Arsenal gate. He reined up then, and raising his voice, asked in

clear tones for M. de Biron.

"Go," he continued boldly, "tell the Grand Master that one from the King

is here, and would speak with him."

"From the King of France?" the officer on the gate asked.

"Surely! Is there more than one king in France?"

A curse and a bitter cry of "King? King Herod!" were followed by a

muttered discussion that, in the ears of one of the two who waited in the

gloom below, boded little good. The two could descry figures moving to

and fro before the faint red light of the smouldering matches; and

presently a man on the gate kindled a torch, and held it so as to fling

its light downward. The stranger's attendant cowered behind the horse.

"Have a care, my lord!" he whispered. "They are aiming at us!"

If so the rider's bold front and unmoved demeanour gave them pause.

Presently, "I will send for the Grand Master" the man who had spoken

before announced. "In whose name, monsieur?"

"No matter," the stranger answered. "Say, one from the King."

"You are alone?"

"I shall enter alone."

The assurance seemed to be satisfactory, for the man answered "Good!" and

after a brief delay a wicket in the gate was opened, the portcullis

creaked upward, and a plank was thrust across the ditch. The horseman

waited until the preparations were complete; then he slid to the ground,

threw his rein to the servant, and boldly walked across. In an instant

he left behind him the dark street, the river, and the sounds of outrage,

which the night breeze bore from the farther bank, and found himself

within the vaulted gateway, in a bright glare of light, the centre of a

ring of gleaming eyes and angry faces.

The light blinded him for a few seconds; but the guards, on their side,

were in no better case. For the stranger was masked; and in their

ignorance who it was looked at them through the slits in the black velvet

they stared, disconcerted, and at a loss. There were some there with

naked weapons in their hands who would have struck him through had they

known who he was; and more who would have stood aside while the deed was

done. But the uncertainty--that and the masked man's tone paralyzed

them. For they reflected that he might be anyone. Conde, indeed, stood

too small, but Navarre, if he lived, might fill that cloak; or Guise, or

Anjou, or the King himself. And while some would not have scrupled to

strike the blood royal, more would have been quick to protect and avenge

it. And so before the dark uncertainty of the mask, before the riddle of

the smiling eyes which glittered through the slits, they stared

irresolute; until a hand, the hand of one bolder than his fellows, was

raised to pluck away the screen.