sement down into the moat. Then, laying hold of one
of the three from behind, and pinning down his arms securely, he placed
him in front of himself for a shield--turning him dexterously this
way and that, in order to keep his body always between his own and the
enemy; so that they dared not fire upon him lest they should kill their
comrade, who was vehemently beseeching them to spare his life, and
vainly struggling to escape from Scapin's iron grip.

The combat between de Sigognac and Malartic was still going on, but at
last, the baron--who had already wounded his adversary slightly, and
whose agony and desperation at being kept from prosecuting his search
for Isabelle were intense--wrested Malartic's sword from his grasp, by a
dexterous manoeuvre with his own, and putting his foot upon it as it lay
on the floor raised the point of his blade to the professional ruffian's
throat, crying "Surrender, or you are a dead man!"

At this critical moment another one of the besieging party burst in
through the window, who, seeing at a glance how matters stood, said to
Malartic in an authoritative tone, "You can surrender without dishonour
to this valiant hero--you are entirely at his mercy. You have done your
duty loyally--now consider yourself a prisoner of war."

Then turning to de Sigognac, he said, "You may trust his word, for he is
an honourable fellow in his way, and will not molest you again--I will
answer for him."

Malartic made a gesture of acquiescence, and the baron let him
go--whereupon the discomfited bully picked up his sword, and with a
crestfallen air walked off very disconsolately to a corner, where he sat
down and occupied himself in staunching the blood that was flowing
from his wound. The other three men were quickly conquered, and, at the
suggestion of the latest comer, were securely bound hand and foot
as they lay upon the floor, and then left to reflect upon their
misfortunes.

"They can't do any more mischief now," said Jacquemin Lampourde,
mockingly; for it was that famous fighting man in person, who, in his
enthusiastic admiration, or rather adoration, for de Sigognac, had
offered his services on this momentous occasion--services by no means
to be despised. As to the brave Herode, he was doing good service in
fighting the rest of the garrison below. They had hastened out and
crossed the moat in the little row-boat as quickly as possible after the
alarm was given, but arrived too late, as we have se