So much so, indeed, that though he signed to his two servants to follow him, he seemed barely conscious what he was doing; nor did he shake off his reverie until he reached the corner of the Rue Baillet.

Here the voices of the Swiss who stood on guard opposite Coligny's lodgings, at the end of the Rue Bethizy, could be plainly heard.

They had kindled a fire in an iron basket set in the middle of the road, and knots of them were visible in the distance, moving to and fro about their piled arms.
Tignonville paused before he came within the radius of the firelight, and, turning, bade his servants take their way home.

"I shall follow, but I have business first," he added curtly.
The elder of the two demurred.

"The streets are not too safe," he said.
"In two hours or less, my lord, it will be midnight.