thought upon this last point, he
made no comment thereon; but he showed the liveliest sense of the
increased danger in which the Countess stood. He feared that my escape
would make her position still worse, and that her hours might be already
numbered. He considered there was not time for me to go to Paris and
return: the Countess's rescue ought to be attempted promptly, or the
attempt would be too late.

In all this, he but echoed the feeling that had come back to me with
double force while I told him the situation. But there was the
Countess's determination not to flee. Hugues said that as this
determination must be overcome for the Countess's own sake, any pressure
that could be brought to bear upon her feelings would be justifiable.
Let it be urged upon her that if she persisted in waiting for death,
Mathilde's life also would doubtless be sacrificed; let every argument,
every persuasion be employed; let me beseech, let me reproach, let me
even use imperative means if need be. Suddenly, as he talked, I saw a
way by which I thought she might be moved. It was one chance, but enough
to commit me to the effort.

The question now was, how to communicate with the Countess, and to
accomplish the rescue. This Hugues and I settled ere we went to bed. I
slept that night in the mill, by the trap-door. Hugues lay awake,
listening for any alarm. None came, and in the morning we agreed that
either the Count had elected not to seek me at all, or had traced me to
the inn, and, learning I had taken horse, supposed I was far out of the
neighbourhood. I stayed indoors all that day, while Hugues was absent in
furtherance of our project, the woman and boy being under strict orders
as to their conduct in the event of inquiries. In the evening Hugues
returned with various acquisitions, among them being a sword for me, and
a long rope ladder, both obtained at Troo.

We awaited the fall of night, then set out. I upon my horse, Hugues
riding one of his and leading the other. We went by obscure lanes,
crossed the river, gained the forest, and lingered in its shades till
the church clock of Montoire struck eleven. We then proceeded through
the forest, near the edge, till we were behind the Chateau de Lavardin.

Besides the rope-ladder, we had with us a cross-bow that Hugues owned, a
long slender cord, and a paper on which I had written some brief
instructions during the afternoon.

CHAPTER XII.

THE ROPE LADDER

The night was