first thought of having her clasp me around the neck, and so descending
with her, but once upon the ladder, I saw no safe way for her to get
behind me, or indeed to turn from facing the ladder. So we came down as
I say, while I kept as well as I could between her and the possibility
of falling. Frequently I asked in a whisper if all was well with her,
and she answered yes.

When we were near the moat, I felt the ladder move from the wall and
knew that Hugues was drawing it toward him. I warned the Countess of our
change from a vertical to an inclined position, and so we were swung
across, and found ourselves above solid earth, on which we presently set
foot.

"Best take Madame the Countess to the horses while I wait for Mathilde,"
whispered Hugues to me, letting the ladder swing back; but Madame would
not go till the maid was safe beside us. Mathilde, who had watched our
descent, now drew her head in, and speedily we saw her feet emerge in
its stead. She came down the ladder with ease and rapidity, such were
her strength and self-possession. As soon as she touched the ground,
Hugues swung back the ladder to stay, and took up his cross-bow.

"Come," I whispered, and we turned our backs to that grim tower and
hastened along the moat to the forest, passing on the way the high gable
window of what had been my prison, the postern which I had such good
reason to remember, and the oak from which I had seen Hugues display the
handkerchief. Scarce a word was spoken till we came to the horses. I
assisted the Countess to mount one of Hugues's two, she making no
difficulty about accommodating herself to a man's saddle. By that time
Hugues and Mathilde were on his second horse. I got upon my own, and we
started. Our immediate purpose was to go to Hugues's house by the woods
and lanes, fording the river below Montoire.

As we came out of the forest, beyond St. Outrille, the moon rose, and
against the luminous Eastern sky we could see the dark tower we had left
behind,--tower of blood and death, on which I hoped never to set eyes
again.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE PARTING

We hoped to be at Hugues's house before the Countess's flight should be
discovered. Hugues and I discussed the chances as we rode. The Count
would probably give his murderous agents ample time before going to see
why they did not come to report the deed accomplished. He would then
lose many minutes in breaking into the cell, and again in questioning
the wat