A few minutes later, while he was still on the lookout, another one came creeping stealthily by, making futile efforts to stifle the noise of his creaking boots.

His suspicions now thoroughly aroused, de Sigognac continued his watch, and in about half an hour came yet another--a fierce, villainous looking fellow, and fully armed, as every one of his predecessors had been also.

This strange proceeding seemed very extraordinary and menacing to the baron, and the number of the men--four--brought to his mind the night attack upon him in the streets of Poitiers, after his quarrel with the Duke of Vallombreuse.
This recollection was like a ray of light, and it instantly flashed upon him that the man he had seen in the kitchen was no other than one of those precious rascals, who had been routed so ignominiously--and these, without doubt, were his comrades.

But how came they there?
in the very house with him--not by chance surely.

They must have followed him up to Paris, stage by stage, in disguise, or else keeping studiously out of his sight, Evidently the young duke's animosity was still active, as well as his passion, and he had not renounced his designs upon either Isabelle or himself.