We came to where the two slain men lay across the way. M. Étienne exclaimed:
"If you do not hold your life dear, you sell it dear, Monsieur! How many of the rascals were there?"
"It was hard to tell in the dark. Five, I think."
"Now, Monsieur, how came you to be in this place in the dark?"
"Why, what to do, Étienne? I came in at the gate just after midnight. I could not leave St. Denis earlier, and night is my time to enter Paris. The inns were shut—"
"But some friend near the gate? Tarigny would have sheltered you."
"Aye, and got into trouble for it, had it leaked out to the Sixteen."
"Tarigny is no craven."
"But neither am I," said Monsieur, smiling.
"Oh, I give you up! Go your ways. But I will not come to save you next time."