"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:—