bout, threatening
destruction.

An hour before midnight, he was standing on the top of a mountain,
beneath him lay a dark valley, a large house, lights gleamed from only
a few of the windows. What was his surprise on recovering his
recollection. It was his home, and he arrived at it by a road that he
had never before trodden. Here he had lately waved a last farewell to
his father. He descended. He heard whisperings in the vineyard, he
perceived figures moving along creeping. Familiar as he was with the
place, he easily gained the back of a rocky wall of a grotto in which
he heard voices speaking. "It must soon take place," said a hoarse
voice, "and truly as I have arranged, it would be better from the
garden, let us all assemble in the vaulted passage, from thence we
shall with greater facility reach the lower window. Two or three others
might in the mean while ascend the ladder and enter by the window there
above. The old man, the child and the domestics must be put to death.
But no shooting, I tell you, for there are royal troops quite close,
who would most certainly forbid us to plunder, on that account also you
must not set fire to the house."

Edmond stole down, behind the barn he found Cavalier and his troop, who
were amazed at seeing him so suddenly and rejoiced at the news he
brought. He conducted them by a different way into the garden and
posted them at the back of the entwined arbour, which, moreover, had no
opening at the sides. He took half of the troops with him to guard the
entrance. The robbers were already in the dark beach avenue; when they
saw men advancing towards them they retreated, but Edmond pursued them;
a fray ensued in the obscurity, and Cavalier and his party now also
appeared and surrounded the assassins. Cavalier quickly caused a torch
to be lighted and after a short, but murderous combat, when the bravest
of the robbers had fallen, the rest were compelled to surrender,
Cavalier caused them to be bound and carried away by his soldiers.

Edmond accompanied by a few followers went in the stillness of night
round the house. He found a ladder ready placed by which it was evident
that some of the robbers intended to enter. He could not resist the
inclination to visit again the house of his childhood. When he reached
the top, he found the whole household asleep, all the lights were
extinguished. He now opened the hall door, there sat his venerable
father, sleeping in an arm-chair, a night lamp