ower doors and windows, and set the ruffians at defiance if they
come. Will you accompany me, Finnahan, and as we go give me your advice
as to the best way of defending the house?"

I would willingly have stopped to try and tranquillise the alarm of
Madame La Touche and Sophie, but I could not refuse my friend's request.
I set off with him, and we soon reached the tower. We looked out from
a narrow window towards the north, but at first could see no one
approaching, though on listening attentively we fancied that we could
distinguish the murmur of voices far off.

Presently a bright light appeared on the left, rising, it seemed, out of
the midst of a forest at some distance from the banks of the Seine. The
light rapidly increased in size, and flames began to ascend, while
clouds of smoke darkened the sky.

"Ah! that must come from the Chateau l'Estrange!" exclaimed La Touche.
"The rabble have attacked the house, and set it on fire. Fortunately,
none of the family are at home except the old domestics, and they, poor
people, will too probably be sacrificed. The villains would like to
treat my chateau in the same way, and will before long make the
attempt."

"But we will defend it, and drive them back," I exclaimed. "Have you a
sufficient supply of arms and ammunition for its defence? We must
barricade all the doors and windows; and, unless they have cannon, they
will not succeed in getting in, I trust."

"We have plenty of arms, and I obtained a supply of ammunition a short
time since," said La Touche. "I doubt, however, the courage of some of
my domestics; they would rather yield to the rabble than risk their
lives in the defence of my property."

"Larry and I will try to make up, as far as we can, for their want of
bravery," I said.

"Thank you, my friends; you will be a host in yourselves. Now let us
see about preparing to give the insurgents a warm reception should they
attack the chateau."

On descending from the tower, La Touche entered the supper room singing
and laughing.

"There is not much to be afraid of, so you need not be anxious, _ma
chere mere_; or you either, Sophie," he said in a cheerful tone of
voice. "We are going to shut the doors and windows in case any of the
rabble may try to creep in at them. You can retire to your rooms or
stay here, as you think best. You will oblige me, however, by keeping
the women quiet, or they may be running about and interfering with our
proceedings