The Huguenot Bartholomew Dupuy and his descendants

118 BARTHOLOMEW DUPUY IN HISTORY.
Chap. I. Thirty minutes after their departure the sound
of horses' hoofs was -pjjg
heard, and a company of dra-
Woundedgoons, headed by Jarnilloc, descended like a thun-
Woif. der-bolt upon the chateau.
"Where are the heretics?" cried the furious captain
of dragoons. "Burn the nest of traitors!
Smoke out the enemies of his Majesty !"
"Is it myself and my household to whom you allude,
sire Captain?" said Dupuy, with his iron
calmness. "If so, I beg you will proceed. Having
lodged my safeguard, under his Majesty's hand,
with the cure of the parish, I can afford to be killed,
as you will be shot by command of his Majesty— if
/ do not kill you."
"Heretic!" cried the furious dragoon, "you harbor
traitors!"
"Very well, come in and search, Messire Jarnilloc.
I pray you not to break my furniture, however; it
might displease his Majesty."
"To the devil with your furniture!" cried the
officer. "Corporal! take ten men and search the
house!"
The corporal obeyed, and we need not say failed
to find Fontaine.
"No one. Captain," reported the corporal, making
the military salute.
"And yet I had exact information that a traitor
named Fontaine took refuge here, after murdering
one of my soldiers last night."
"Gone, Captain," said the corporal.
"Ah, yes! fled! Scatter at once in pursuit!"
With these words the officer put spur to his horse,
and took to the road which Fontaine had followed,
at full speed. The rest of the soldiers dispersed
themselves over the surrounding country.
"Oh, my God !" murmured Madame Dupuy, clinging
to her husband, and turning as pale as death;
"if they come up with them !"
Dupuy's lips were firmly set together.
"I ordered my horse," he said, "when I saw these