"A great many Huguenots—yes," replied La Hurière, but suddenly changing his tone:
"Pardon me, gentlemen," said he, "perhaps you are of that religion?"
"I," cried Coconnas, "I am as good a Catholic as the pope himself."
La Hurière looked at La Mole, but La Mole did not or would not comprehend him.
"If you do not know the King of Navarre, Maître La Hurière," said La Mole, "perhaps you know the admiral. I have heard he has some influence at court, and as I have letters for him, perhaps you will tell me where he lives, if his name does not take the skin off your lips."
"He did live in the Rue de Béthizy down here at the right," replied the landlord, with an inward satisfaction he could not conceal.
"He did live?" exclaimed La Mole. "Has he changed his residence?"
"Yes—from this world, perhaps."
"What do you mean?" cried both the gentlemen together, "the admiral removed from this world?"
"What, Monsieur de Coconnas," pursued the landlord, with a shrewd smile, "are you a friend of the Duc de Guise, and do not know that?"