and howl and wring their hands. She
is a trump, Jeanne is, and no mistake. And now about Marie. She
must be got out somehow, but how? That is the question. I really
don't see any possible way except by bribing her guards, and
I haven't the least idea how to set about that. I think to-morrow
I will tell Jacques and his wife all about it; they may know some
of these men, though it isn't likely that they do; anyhow, three
heads are better than one."

Accordingly, next morning he took the kind-hearted couple into his
counsel. When they heard that the young lady who had been arrested
was the fiance of their sick lodger they were greatly interested,
but they shook their heads when he told them that he was determined
at all hazards to get her out of prison.

"It isn't the risk so much," Jacques said, "that I look at. Life
doesn't seem of much account in these days; but how could it be
done? Even if you made up your mind to be killed, I don't see that
would put her a bit nearer to getting out of prison; the place is
too strong to break into or to break out of."

"No, I don't think it is possible to succeed in that sort of way;
but if the men who have the keys of the corridors could be bribed,
and the guard at the gate put soundly to sleep by drugging their
drink, it might be managed."

Jacques looked sharply at Harry to see if he was in earnest, and
seeing that he was so, said drily:

"Yes, if we could do those things we should, no doubt, see our way;
but how could it be managed?"

"That is just the point, Jacques. In the first place it will be
necessary to find out in which corridor Mademoiselle de St. Caux
is confined; in the second, to let her know that we are working
for her, and to learn, if possible, from her whether, among those
in charge of her, there is one man who shows some sort of feeling
of pity and kindness; when that is done we should, of course, try
to get hold of him. Of course he doesn't remain in the prison all
day. However, we can see about that after we have found out the
first points."

"I know a woman who is sister to one of the warders," Elise Medart
said. "I don't know whether he is there now or whether he has been
turned out. Martha is a good soul, and I know that sometimes she
has been inside the prison, I suppose to see her brother, for before
the troubles the warders used to get out only once a month. What
her brother is like I don't know, but if he is like her he would,
I think, be jus