Of course Chicot had received no warning. While the merchants were flying, he was sleeping peacefully.
The host now descended into the hall, where stood six armed men, one of whom seemed to command the others.
"Well?" said this one.
"I have obeyed your orders, monsieur."
"Your inn is deserted?"
"Absolutely."
"The person is not awakened?"
"No."
"You know in whose name we act, and what cause we serve: for you serve the same."
"Yes, certainly; therefore, I have sacrificed, to keep my oath, the money that these men would have spent at my house; for it is said in the oath, 'I will sacrifice my goods to the defense of the Catholic religion.'"