The archer who had put himself forward saw which way the wind was blowing, and he shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, my lord, as you will," he said sullenly.

"All the same I would advise you to close the door and bolt and bar.

We shall not be the last to call to-day." And he turned his horse in ill-humour, and forced it, snorting and plunging, through the crowd.
"Bolt and bar ?" Tavannes cried after him in fury.

"See you my answer to that!" And turning on the threshold, "Within there!" he cried.

"Open the shutters and set lights, and the table! Light, I say; light! And lay on quickly, if you value your lives! And throw open, for I sup with your mistress to-night, if it rain blood without! Do you hear me, rogues?
Set on!" He flung the last word at the quaking servants; then he turned again to the street.