, the day I saw her in
the garden, things had not gone so far. And then she thought there was
no safe place of refuge for her. But I can find a place. And she thought
an attempt must be hopeless because the Count would be swift to pursue.
But if we got some hours' start, going at night--"

"Yes, certainly it will have to be at night, Monsieur. The Count has the
roads watched from the tower, for some purpose of his own--I think he
expects some enemy."

"You still have the key to the postern?"

"It must be where I left it--buried under the rose-bush nearest the
postern itself. But the first thing is, to get out of the room in the
tower."

"Certainly. It would not be possible for Madame to get out as you have
done--by a disguise, I mean?"

"No, Monsieur. Brigitte is the only one who comes to us, with whom she
might change clothes. And Madame is not at all of Brigitte's figure--nor
could she mimic Brigitte's walk as I can. She could not act a part in
the slightest degree. And I know that Madame would never consent to go
and leave me behind to bear the Count's wrath. We must all three go
together. Besides Brigitte comes and goes in the daytime, and Madame
must escape at night."

"Yes, that is certain. It is hard to devise a plan in a moment. If I
could think of it over night, and you come to me again to-morrow--but
no, you may not be able to play this same trick again--the guards may
detect you going back."

"That is true, and I have thought of one plan, though it may be
difficult."

"Let me hear it, nevertheless."

"Then listen, Monsieur. First, as to the door of our cell. It is locked
with a key, which the Count himself retains, except when he goes out, as
this afternoon,--it is then entrusted to the seneschal. I know this from
Brigitte, for the key is given to her when she comes to us. She hands it
to the guard on the landing, who opens the door and keeps the key while
she is within. When she leaves us, he locks the door, and she takes the
key back to the Count or seneschal. But in order to release Madame, you
must have that key."

"And how am I to get it?"

"After Brigitte's last visit to us before the night we select, she will
give the Count or seneschal, not the real key to our cell, but another
of the same size and general shape--she has access to unimportant keys
about the house. Then she will bring the real key to you."

"But poor Brigitte!--when the Count investigates in the morning, he will
find s