"Or from the south ?" "From the south," I answered.

"From Orleans, and hungry and tired, Master Host." "Ah!" he replied, disregarding the latter part of my answer, while his little eyes twinkled with satisfaction.

"Then I dare swear, my lords, you have not heard the news ?" He halted in the narrow passage, and lifting the candle he carried, scanned our faces closely, as if he wished to learn something about us before he spoke.
"News!" I answered brusquely, being both tired, and as I had told him, hungry.

"We have heard none, and the best you can give us will be that our supper is ready to be served." But even this snub did not check his eagerness to tell his news.

"The Admiral de Coligny," he said, breathlessly, "you have not heard what has happened to him ?" "To the admiral?
No, what ?" I inquired rapidly.