Page:The Rebellion in the Cevennes (Volume 1).djvu/88

Rh your legs and in your whole person a very puzzling youth."

The young man reddened with resentment and the Counsellor endeavoured to turn the entire affair into merriment and laughter,—when the whole party was suddenly alarmed by a violent knocking at the front door of the house, that aroused even Edmond from his reverie. "For God’s sake let me in," roared a voice loudly from without, "open to me in the name of heaven!"

At a sign from the Counsellor, who quickly recovered from his surprise, the servants rushed forward, the company looked at one another in silence, the bolts were withdrawn, and the tread of heavy footsteps was heard approaching the hall; the doors were thrown open, and lighted by the servants, a tall, powerfully-built figure with grey hair and moustaches of the same hue entered, he held in his hand a massive staff, that without exaggeration might be termed a club; a long, broad sword trailed