ey have
discovered our flight," I said, my heart sinking.

Luckily we had had the forethought to draw the curtain across the
casement. Bezers' people could therefore, from their window, see no
more than ours, dimly lighted and indistinct. Yet they would no doubt
guess the way we had escaped, and hasten to cut off our retreat below.
For a moment I looked at the door of our room, half-minded to attack
it, and fight our way out, taking the chance of reaching the street
before Bezers' folk should have recovered from their surprise and gone
down. But then I looked at Madame. How could we ensure her safety in
the struggle? While I hesitated the choice was taken from us. We heard
voices in the house below, and heavy feet on the stairs.

We were between two fires. I glanced irresolutely round the bare
garret, with its sloping roof, searching for a better weapon. I had
only my dagger. But in vain. I saw nothing that would serve. "What
will you do?" Madame de Pavannes murmured, standing pale and trembling
by the hearth, and looking from one to another. Croisette plucked my
sleeve before I could answer, and pointed to the box-bed with its
scanty curtains. "If they see us in the room," he urged softly, "while
they are half in and half out, they will give the alarm. Let us hide
ourselves yonder. When they are inside--you understand?"

He laid his hand on his dagger. The muscles of the lad's face grew
tense. I did understand him. "Madame," I said quickly, "you will not
betray us?"

She shook her head. The colour returned to her cheek, and the
brightness to her eyes. She was a true woman. The sense that she was
protecting others deprived her of fear for herself.

The footsteps were on the topmost stair now, and a key was thrust with
a rasping sound into the lock. But before it could be turned--it
fortunately fitted ill--we three had jumped on the bed and were
crouching in a row at the head of it, where the curtains of the alcove
concealed, and only just concealed us, from any one standing at the end
of the room near the door.

I was the outermost, and through a chink could see what passed. One,
two, three people came in, and the door was closed behind them. Three
people, and one of them a woman! My heart--which had been in my
mouth--returned to its place, for the Vidame was not one. I breathed
freely; only I dared not communicate my relief to the others, lest my
voice should be heard. The first to come