s words sank with the weight of truth into John's heart.

"Can you really help me to escape?" he asked.

"I think so. I'm sure of it. The guards in the house are relaxed at this
late hour, and they would seem needless anyhow with so many sentinels
outside."

"But, Weber, Julie Lannes, the sister of Philip Lannes, is here a
prisoner also. She was taken when I was. She is a Red Cross nurse, and
although the Germans would not harm a woman, I do not like to leave her
in this chateau. Your Prince of Auersperg does not seem to belong to our
later age."

"Perhaps not. He holds strongly for the old order, but the young von
Arnheim is here also. His is a devoted German heart, but his German eyes
have looked with admiration, nay more, upon a French face. He will
protect that beautiful young Mademoiselle Julie with his life against
anybody, against his senior in military rank, the Prince of Auersperg
himself. Sir, you must come! If you wish to help Philip Lannes' sister
you can be of more help to her living than dead. If you linger here you
surely disappear from men tomorrow!"

"How do you know these things, Weber?"

"I have been in the house three or four hours and there is talk among
the soldiers. I pray you, don't hesitate longer!"

"How can you find a way?"

"Wait a minute."

He slipped back to the door, opened it and looked into the hall.

"The path is clear," he said, when he returned. "There is no sentinel
near your door, and I've found a way leading out of the chateau at the
back. Most of these old houses have crooked, disused passages."

"But suppose we succeed in reaching the outside, Weber, what then? The
place is surrounded by an army."

"A way is there, too. One man in the darkness can pass through a
multitude. We can't delay, because another chance may not come!"

John was overborne. Weber was half pulling him toward the door.
Moreover, there was much sense in what the Alsatian said. It was a
commonplace that he could be of more service to Julie alive than dead,
and the man's insistence deciding him, he crept with the Alsatian into
the hall. They stood a few minutes in the dark, listening, but no sound
came. Evidently the house slept well.

"This way, Mr. Scott," whispered Weber, and he led toward the rear of
the house. Turning the corner of the hall he opened a small door in the
wall, which John would have passed even in the daylight without
noticing.

"Put a hand on my coat and follow me," said W