"I will read it for you if you like," said De Lorgnac as he pushed his horse forwards.
"You!"
"Yes. I am Monsieur de Lorgnac, the lieutenant of the Queen's guard."
The old soldier made a mock bow. "And I," he said, "am Agrippa Pavanes, without a De, lieutenant of the Gate of St. Michel; and your friend there is, I suppose, Monsieur de Croquemort, lieutenant of Trouands. And, as we all know each other now, I tell you plainly you must hold patience by the tail as best you may until the gates are opened. Letter or no letter, I will not let you through."
And so saying he would have turned away, but Lorgnac said quietly:
"You will be good enough, monsieur, to inform Monsieur de Créquy that I am here and desire to see him at once."
Agrippa Pavanes swung round and faced us, his hand on his sword-hilt.
"I am in charge of this gate at present, and I will act as I think best. I may not be able to read or write, but if you do not be off I will make a full stop on you with the point of my sword," he snarled.
Affairs were getting serious. Nor do I know what might have happened, but at this juncture a head appeared at a window in one of the flanking towers of the gate, and an angry and a sleepy voice asked what was the matter below.
"It is I, Créquy," began De Lorgnac, and the other exclaimed: