the wall. She flung one down beside me just as I
was staggering to my feet.

Leroux shook off the old man at last. He turned on me. I swung the
sword aloft and brought it down upon his skull.

Heaven knows I struck to kill; but my wrist was feeble from the ropes,
and the blade fell flat. It drew no blood, but Leroux dropped like a
stricken ox upon the floor.

"This way!" gasped the old man.

He pulled at Jacqueline's arm, and half led and half dragged her
through the open door behind his chair, I following. Lacroix sprang
into the room, called, but whether to us or to the other ruffians I did
not know. Leroux sat up and looked about him, dazed and bewildered.

Then I was in the little room with Jacqueline and Duchaine, and he
turned and bolted the door behind us. He seemed possessed of all the
strength and decision of youth again.

When I stood there before the room had been as dark as pitch, but now a
flicker of light was at the far end. A voice cried:

"_M'sieur_! _M'sieur_! I have not forgotten thee!"

It was Pierre Caribou. I saw his figure silhouetted against the light
of the flaring candle which he held in his hand.

Duchaine had placed one arm about his daughter's waist, and was urging
her along. But she stopped and looked back to me. I saw she held one
broadsword in her hand, as I held the other.

"Come, _monsieur_!" she gasped.

But I was too mad with the desire to make an end of Leroux to accompany
her. I wanted to go back. I tried to find the bolt of the door in the
gloom, but while my fingers were fumbling for it Jacqueline came
running back to me.

"Quick, or we are lost!" she cried.

"I am going back," I answered, still fumbling for the holt Duchaine had
drawn.

"No! We are safe inside. It is a secret room. My father made it in
the first days of his sojourn here in case he was pursued, and none but
Pierre and he know the secret. Ah, come, _monsieur_--come!"

She clung to me desperately, and there was an intensity of entreaty in
her voice.

I hesitated. There was no sound in the room without, and I believed
that the two ruffianly followers were ignorant of what had happened,
and had not dared to return after being driven away.

But I meant to kill Leroux, and still felt for the bolt.

As I fumbled there the door splintered suddenly, and Jacqueline cried
out. Through the hole I saw the oil-lamp shining in the outer room.

The door splintered again. All at once I