He made the sign of the cross, rose, donned his hat once more, and said to Tristan, —

“Be diligent, gossip. Take Monsieur Ch�teaupers with you. You will cause the tocsin to be sounded.

You will crush the populace. You will seize the witch. ‘Tis said. And I mean the business of the execution to be done by you. You will render me an account of it. Come, Olivier, I shall not go to bed this night. Shave me.”

Tristan l’Hermite bowed and departed. Then the king, dismissing Rym and Coppenole with a gesture, —

“God guard you, messieurs, my good friends the Flemings. Go, take a little repose. The night advances, and we are nearer the morning than the evening.”