We had scarcely gone a dozen paces from my door when a man slipped from the shelter of one of these buttresses, and after a single glance at us, set off to run towards the Rue St.Denys.
M.d'Agen looked back and nodded.

'There goes the news,' he said.

'They will try to cut us off, but I think we have the start of them.' I made no reply, feeling that I had resigned myself entirely into his hands.

But as we passed through the Rue de Valois, in part of which a market was held at this hour, attracting a considerable concourse of peasants and others, I fancied I detected signs of unusual bustle and excitement.

It seemed unlikely that news of the priest's murder should affect so many people and to such a degree, and I asked M.d'Agen what it meant.
'There is a rumour abroad,' he answered, without slackening speed, 'that the king intends to move south to Tours at once.' I muttered my surprise and satisfaction.