exclamation hurried past, plunged into the darkness of an opposite alley, and disappeared. Katherine gave a little cry that was almost a cry of fear, and ran swiftly to where Villon stood apart at the foot of the steps awaiting her pleasure.
"My lord!" she cried, and he, turning, swiftly responded:
"My lady!"
"This masking kindles fancies. I thought but now that the eyes of Thibaut d'Aussigny glared on me from under a pilgrim's hood."
Villon frowned.
"A villainous apparition. For the news is that he lies dead in the camp of Burgundy."
Katherine gave a little shudder.
"I always hated him; almost feared him. If he be dead, I hope he will not haunt me. Ah! I tingle to-night like a lute that is tuned too high."
"Let us think of no evil things to-night," Villon responded. "Will you watch the players?"
Katherine shook her head.
"Nay, I am more in a mood for moonlight than candlelight."
Villon looked at her in silence, a silence of seconds that seemed to both of them like the silence of hours. The hearts of both were houses of sweet
