Several," Seth answered.

"Tramps, perhaps, lodging here for the night."

"I fear not. They are on the stairs. We shall soon see," answered Seth.

"Lock the door; we must wait," said Barrington.

It was done in a moment, and immediately there were stealthy, shuffling
feet in the passage without.

"Curse them," muttered Seth. "I have been followed. For all my care I
have brought you into ruin. What can we do?"

"Wait."

"Master Richard, is there no other way of escape from that roof below?"

"None."

Jeanne's hand was still in his, still holding him tightly. He could not
feel that she trembled, yet he could not trust himself to speak to her.
He had failed to rescue her. There were many in the passage without, he
was sure of that. He could fight for her, die for her, but he could not
save her. He dared not speak to her lest he should cry out in the
anguish of his soul.

The handle of the door was tried, gently. Then there was silence again.

"Give us the woman and you may go free."

The words were not spoken loudly. It seemed like the offer of a secret
bargain, a suggestion in it that the woman might not hear, and might
never know that her companions had betrayed her to save themselves.

Then Jeanne spoke, in a whisper but quite clearly.

"It is the end. You have done all that a man could do. I thank you--I
thank you; and you, too, Seth. A woman never had truer friends."

She stretched out a hand to Seth, who caught it almost roughly and
pressed his lips to it.

There was pressure upon the door, and the cracking of the wood.

"There's quick death for the first man who crosses this threshold," Seth
muttered as he went to the door.

"Richard! Richard!"

"Jeanne!"

Barrington's head was lowered as he whispered her name. It seemed as
though failure had made him ashamed.

"I know your secret, dear, I know it and am glad," she whispered. "I
thank God that I am loved by such a man. I would rather be where I am at
this moment, by your side, than in the place of any other woman in the
world, however free she may be. Richard, kiss me."

"Jeanne! Jeanne!" he cried as he caught her in his arms. "I love you! I
love you! God, send a miracle to help us."

"He will let us be together soon and for always, if not here, in
heaven," she whispered.

"The door gives, Master Richard," Seth said.

"Back into the corner, Jeanne. Who knows what may happen?"

"We may win through, Master Richard. Be ready, the door w