, who has
languished in the dungeon for three years;' and when the explanation had
been made, Aime assented, though half-unwillingly, to the necessity,
and presently quitted them to bear back their answer to his lady. Philip
shook his hand violently again, patted him on the back, so as almost
to take away his breath, and bade him never fear, they would be sworn
brothers to him for ever; and then threw up his hat into the air, and
was so near astonishing the donjon walls with a British hurrah, that
Berenger had to put his hand over his mouth and strangle the shout in
his very throat.

The chief of that night was spent in enlarging the hole in Osbert's
wall, so as to admit of his creeping through it; and they also prepared
their small baggage for departure. Their stock of money, though some had
been spent on renewing their clothes, and some in needful gratuities to
the servants and gendarmes, was sufficient for present needs, and they
intended to wear their ordinary dress. They were unlikely to meet any
of the peasants in the neighbourhood; and, indeed, Berenger had so
constantly ridden out in his black mask, that its absence, now that his
scars were gone, was as complete a change as could be effected in one
whose height was of unusual.

'There begins the kneel,' said Philip, standing at the window. 'It's our
joy-bell, Berry! Every clang seems to me to say, "Home! home! home!"

'For you, Phil,' said Berenger; 'but I must be satisfied of Eutacie's
fate first. I shall go first to Nissard--whither we were bound when we
were seized--then to La Rochelle, whence you may---'

'No more of that,' burst out Philip. 'What! would you have me leave you
now, after all we have gone through together? Not that you will find
her. I don't want to vex you, brother, on such a day as this, but you
conjurer's words are coming true in the other matter.'

'How? What mean you, Phil?'

'What's the meaning of Aime?' asked Philip. 'Even I am French scholar
enough for that. And who sends him?'

Meantime the court was already filling with swarms of persons of
every rank and degree, but several anxious hours had passed before
the procession was marshaled; and friars and monks, black, white, and
gray,--priests in rich robes and tall caps,--black-cloaked gentlemen and
men-at-arms,--all bearing huge wax tapers,--and peasants and beggars of
every conceivable aspect,--filed out of the court, bearing with them the
richly-emblazoned bier of the noble a