Let us ride forward." The gates remained closed, and they rode up to within a hundred yards of them.

In a few minutes several persons made their appearance on the wall over the gateway, and they then advanced to within twenty paces of the gate.
Then one from the wall said: "I am John De Luc, royal commissioner of this town.

This is the reverend bishop of the town.

This is the maire, and these the magistrates.

To whom am I speaking ?" "I am the Count Francois de Laville," Francois replied; "and I now represent the gentlemen who have come hither, with a large body of troops, to protect those of our faith from persecution and massacre.