Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/155

 1572.] THE MASSACRE OF ST BARTHOLOMEW. 135 Catholics at the Court ; but the crash of his own gate, and shots and shrieks in the court below the window, told him that, whatever was the cause, his own life was in danger. He sat up in his bed. * M. Malin,' he said, ' pray for me ; I have long expected this/ Some of his attendants rushed half-dressed into the room. ' Gfentle- men, save yourselves/ he said to them ; ' I commend my soul to my Saviour/ They scattered, escaping or trying to escape by the i oofs and balconies ; a German servant alone remained with him. The door was burst open immediately after, and the officer who was in charge of the house, a Bohe- mian servant of Guise, and a renegade Huguenot soldier, rushed in with drawn swords. ' Are you the Admiral ? ' the Bohemian cried. ' I am/ replied Coligny ; ' and, young man, you should respect my age and my wounds : but the term of my life does not rest in the pleasure of such as thou/ l The Bohemian, with a curse, stabbed him in the breast, and struck him again on the head. The window was open. ' Is it done ? ' cried Guise from the court below, ' is it done ? Fling him out that we may see him/ Still breathing, the Admiral was hurled upon blood from his face to be sure of his identity, and then kicking him as he lay, shouted, ' So far well. Courage, my brave boys ! now for the rest/ One of the Due de Nevers's people hacked off the head. A rope was knotted Aussi bien ne feras-tu ma vie plus br&ve.' MARTIN, vol. ix.
 * he pavement. The Bastard of Angouleme wiped the