CHAPTER I.
RENE DE VEAUX On a dreary winter's day, early in the year 1564, young Rene de Veaux, who had just passed his sixteenth birthday, left the dear old chateau where he had spent his happy and careless boyhood, and started for Paris.
Less than a month before both his noble father and his gentle mother had been taken from him by a terrible fever that had swept over the country, and Rene their only child, was left without a relative in the world except his uncle the Chevalier Rene de Laudonniere, after whom he was named.

In those days of tedious travel it seemed a weary time to the lonely lad before the messenger who had gone to Paris with a letter telling his uncle of his sad position could return.

When at length he came again, bringing a kind message that bade him come immediately to Paris and be a son to his equally lonely uncle, Rene lost no time in obeying.
He travelled like a young prince, riding a spirited steed, and followed by a party of servants, mounted and armed to protect him against robbers and other perils of the way.

Behind him rode old Francois, who had been his father's valet and was now his sole friend and protector.

The big tears rolled down the boy's cheeks as he turned for a last look at his home; but as it was shut from view by the trees of the park surrounding it, he brushed them away resolutely, and turning to his companion, said, "Thou hast seen the last of my tears, Francois, and with them goes my boyhood; for hereafter I am to be a man, and men know not how to weep." "Well spoken, my young master," replied the old servant, greatly pleased at the brave words of the lad.