"You scum of a filthy city, sweepings of the Halles! Do you think to beard me?
Do you think to frighten me or murder me?
I am Tavannes, and this is my house, and were there a score of Huguenots in it, you should not touch one, nor harm a hair of his head! Begone, I say again, while you may! Seek women and children, and kill them.

But not here!" For an instant the mingled scorn and brutality of his words silenced them.

Then from the rear of the crowd came an answer--the roar of an arquebuse.

The ball whizzed past Count Hannibal's head, and, splashing the plaster from the wall within a pace of Tignonville, dropped to the ground.
Tavannes laughed.

"Bungler!" he cried.