We had been so taken up, actors and audience alike, with the altercation, that no one had heard him ascend the stairs.

He still wore the black and silver suit, but it was half hidden now under a dark riding cloak which just disclosed the glitter of his weapons.

He was booted and spurred and gloved as for a journey.
"Is that so ?" he repeated mockingly, as his gaze rested in turn on each of the four, and then travelled sharply round the room.

"So you will not be thwarted by any man in Paris, to-night, eh?
Have you considered, my dear Coadjutor, what a large number of people there are in Paris?
It would amuse me very greatly now--and I'm sure it would the ladies too, who must pardon my abrupt entrance--to see you put to the test; pitted against--shall we say the Duke of Anjou?
Or M.de Guise, our great man?
Or the Admiral?
Say the Admiral foot to foot ?" Rage and fear--rage at the intrusion, fear of the intruder--struggled in the priest's face.

"How do you come here, and what do you want ?" he inquired hoarsely.