courses.Alowdooropeningfromthelaneintothegardennaturallyattractedmyattention;butitprovedtobeofabnormalstrength,andboltedbothatthetopandbottom.
　　Assuredthatnothingcouldbedoneonthatside,andbeingunwillingtoremainlongerintheneighbourhood,lestIshouldattractattention,Ireturnedtothestreet,andtwicewalkedpastthefrontofthehouse,seeingallIcouldwithaslittleappearanceofseeinganythingasIcouldcompass.Thefrontretreatedsomewhatfromthelineofthestreet,andwasflankedonthefarthersidebystables.Onlyonechimneysmoked,andthatsparely.Threestepsleduptoimposingdoubledoors,whichstoodhalfopen,andaffordedaglimpseofaspacioushallandastatestaircase.Twomen,apparentlyservants,loungedonthesteps,eatingchestnuts,andjestingwithoneanother;andabovethedoorwerethreeshieldsblazonedincolours.Isawwithsatisfaction,asIpassedthesecondtime,thatthemiddlecoatwasthatofTurenneimpalingonewhichIcouldnotread——whichthoroughlysatisfiedmethatthebowofvelvethadnotlied;sothat,withoutmoreado,Iturnedhomewards,formulatingmyplansasIwent.
　　IfoundallasIhadleftit;andmymotherstilllyinginahalf-consciousstate,Iwassparedthepainofmakingexcusesforpastabsence,orexplainingthatwhichIdesigned.I
　　communicatedtheplanIhadformedtoSimonFleix,whosawnodifficultyinprocuringarespectablepersontostaywithMadamedeBonne.Butforsometimehewouldcomenofartherintothebusiness.Helistened,hismouthopenandhiseyesglittering,tomyplanuntilIcametohisshareinit;andthenhefellintoaviolentfitoftrembling.
　　'Youwantmetofight,monsieur,'hecriedreproachfully,shakingalloverlikeoneinthepalsy.'Yousaidsotheothernight.
　　Youwanttogetmekilled!That'sit.'
　　'Nonsense!'Iansweredsharply.'Iwantyoutoholdthehorses!'
　　Helookedatmewildly,withakindofresentmentinhisface,andyetasifhewerefascinated.
　　'Youwilldragmeintoit!'hepersisted.'Youwill!'
　　'Iwon't,'Isaid.
　　'Youwill!Youwill!AndtheendIknow.Ishallhavenochance.Iamaclerk,andnotbredtofighting.Youwanttobethedeathofme!'hecriedexcitedly.
　　'Idon'twantyoutofight,'Iansweredwithsomecontempt.'I
　　wouldratherthatyoukeptoutofitformymother'ssake.I
　　onlywantyoutostayinthelaneandholdthehorses.Youwillrunlittlemoreriskthanyoudosittingbythehearthhere.'
　　AndintheendIpersuadedhimtodowhatIwished;thoughstill,wheneverhethoughtofwhatwasinfrontofhim,hefella-
　　tremblingagain,andmanytimesduringtheafternoongotupandwalkedtoandfrobetweenthewindowandthehearth,hisfaceworkingandhishandsclenchedlikethoseofamaninafever.I
　　putthisdownatfirsttosheerchicken-heartedness,andthoughtitauguredillformyenterprise;butpresentlyremarkingthathemadenoattempttodrawback,andthatthoughthesweatstoodonhisbrowhesetaboutsuchpreparationsaswerenecessary——rememberingalsohowlongandkindly,andwithoutpayorguerdon,hehadservedmymother,Ibegantoseethatherewassomethingphenomenal;amanstrangeandbeyondtheordinary,ofwhomitwasimpossibletopredicatewhathewoulddowhenhecametobetried.
　　Formyself,Ipassedtheafternooninastatealmostofapathy.
　　Ithoughtitmydutytomakethisattempttofreemademoiselle,andtomakeitatonce,sinceitwasimpossibletosaywhatharmmightcomeofdelay,weresheinsuchhandsasFresnoy's;butI
　　hadsolittlehopeofsuccessthatIregardedtheenterpriseasdesperate.Thecertainlossofmymother,however,andthelowebbofmyfortunes,withtheever-presentsenseoffailure,contributedtorendermeindifferenttorisks;andevenwhenwewereonourway,throughby-streetsknowntoSimon,tothefartherendoftheRuelled'Arcy,andtheredandfrostysunsetshoneinourfaces,andgildedforamomentthedulleavesandgreytowersaboveus,Ifeltnosoftening.Whatevertheend,therewasbutoneintheworldwhomIshouldregret,orwhowouldregretme;andshehung,herself,onthevergeofeternity.
　　SothatIwasabletogiveSimonFleixhislastdirectionswithasmuchcoolnessasIeverfeltinmylife.Istationedhimwiththethreehorsesinthelane——whichseemedasquietandlittlefrequentedasinthemorning——neartheendofit,andaboutahundredpacesormorefromthehouse.
　　'Turntheirheadstowardstheramparts,'Isaid,wheelingthemroundmyself,'andthentheywillbereadytostart.Theyareallquietenough.YoucanlettheCidloose.Andnowlistentome,Simon,'Icontinued.'Waithereuntilyouseemereturn,oruntilyouseeyouaregoingtobeattacked.Inthefirstcase,stayforme,ofcourse;inthesecond,saveyourselfasyouplease.Lastly,ifneithereventoccursbeforehalf-pastfive——
　　youwillheartheconvent-bellyonderringatthehalf-hour——
　　begone,andtakethehorses;theyareyours,Andonewordmore,'
　　Iaddedhurriedly.'Ifyoucanonlygetawaywithonehorse,Simon,taketheCid.Itisworthmorethanmostmen,andwillnotfailyouatapinch.'
　　AsIturnedaway,Igavehimonelooktoseeifheunderstood.
　　ItwasnotwithouthesitationthatafterthatlookIlefthim.
　　Thelad'sfacewasflushed,hewasbreathinghard,hiseyesseemedtobealmoststartingfromhishead.Hesathishorseshakingineverylimb,andhadalltheairofamaninafit.I
　　expectedhimtocallmeback;buthedidnot,andreflectingthatImusttrusthim,orgiveuptheattempt,Iwentupthelanewithmyswordundermyarm,andmycloaklooseonmyshoulders.Imetamandrivingadonkeyladenwithfaggots.Isawnooneelse.
　　Itwasalreadyduskbetweenthewalls,thoughlightenoughintheopencountry;butthatwasinmyfavour,myonlyregret;beingthatasthetowngatesclosedshortlyafterhalf-pastfive,I
　　couldnotdefermyattemptuntilastilllaterhour.
　　Pausingintheshadowofthehousewhileamanmightcountten,I
　　impressedonmymemorythepositionoftheparticularwindowwhichboretheknot;thenIpassedquicklyintothestreet,whichwasstillfullofmovement,andforasecond,feelingmyselfsafefromobservationinthecrowd,Istoodlookingatthefrontofthehouse.Thedoorwasshut.MyheartsankwhenIsawthis,forIhadlookedtofinditstillopen.
　　Thefeeling,however,thatIcouldnotwait,thoughtimemightpresentmorethanoneopportunity,spurredmeon.WhatIcoulddoImustdonow,atonce.Thesensethatthiswassobeingheavyuponme,Isawnothingforitbuttousetheknockerandgainadmission,byfraudifIcould,andifnot,byforce.
　　AccordinglyIsteppedbrisklyacrossthekennel,andmadefortheentrance.
　　WhenIwaswithintwopacesofthesteps,however,someoneabruptlythrewthedooropenandsteppedout.Themandidnotnoticeme,andIstoodquicklyaside,hopingthatatthelastminutemychancehadcome.Twomen,whohadapparentlyattendedthisfirstpersondownstairs,stoodrespectfullybehindhim,holdinglights.Hepausedamomentonthestepstoadjusthiscloak,andwithmorethanalittlesurpriseIrecognisedmyacquaintanceofthemorning,M.deBruhl.
　　Ihadscarcelytimetoidentifyhimbeforehewalkeddownthestepsswinginghiscane,brushedcarelesslypastme,andwasgone.Thetwomenlookedafterhimawhile,shadingtheirlightsfromthewind,andonesayingsomething,theotherlaughedcoarsely.Thenextmomenttheythrewthedoortoandwent,asI
　　sawbythepassageoftheirlight,intotheroomontheleftofthehall.
　　Nowwasmytime.Icouldhavehopedfor,prayedfor,expectednobetterfortunethanthis.Thedoorhadreboundedslightlyfromthejamb,andstoodopenaninchormore.InasecondIpusheditfrommegently,slidintothehall,andcloseditbehindme.
　　Thedooroftheroomontheleftwaswideopen,andthelightwhichshonethroughthedoorway——otherwisethehallwasdark——aswellasthevoicesofthetwomenIhadseen,warnedmetobecareful.Istood,scarcelydaringtobreathe,andlookedaboutme.Therewasnomattingonthefloor,nofireonthehearth.
　　Thehallfeltcold,damp,anduninhabited.Thestatestaircaseroseinfrontofme,andpresentlybifurcating,formedagalleryroundtheplace.Ilookedup,andup,andfaraboveme,inthedimheightsofthesecondfloor,Iespiedafaintlight——perhaps,thereflectionofalight.
　　AmovementintheroomonmyleftwarnedmethatIhadnotimetolose,ifImeanttoact.Atanyminuteoneofthemenmightcomeoutanddiscoverme.WiththeutmostcareIstartedonmyjourney.Istoleacrossthestonefloorofthehalleasilyandquietlyenough,butIfoundtherealdifficultybeginwhenIcametothestairs.Theywereofwood,andcreakedandgroanedundermetosuchanextentthat,witheachstepItrod,Iexpectedthementotakethealarm.FortunatelyallwentwelluntilIpassedthefirstcorner——Ichose,ofcourse,theleft-handflight——thenaboardjumpedundermyfootwithacrackwhichsoundedintheemptyhall,andtomyexcitedears,asloudasapistol-shot.I
　　wasintwomindswhetherIshouldnotontheinstantmakearushforit,buthappilyIstoodstill.Oneofthemencameoutandlistened,andIheardtheotherask,withanoath,whatitwas.
　　Ileantagainstthewall,holdingmybreath.
　　'Onlythatwenchinoneofhertantrums!'themanwhohadcomeoutanswered,applyinganepithettoherwhichIwillnotsetdown,butwhichIcarriedtohisaccountintheeventofourcomingfacetofacepresently.'Sheisquietnow.Shemayhammerandhammer,but——'
　　TherestIlost,ashepassedthroughthedoorwayandwentbacktohisplacebythefire.Butinonewayhiswordswereofadvantagetome.IconcludedthatIneednotbesoverycautiousnow,seeingthattheywouldsetdownanythingtheyheardtothesamecause;andIspedonmorequickly,Ihadjustgainedthesecondfloorlandingwhenaloudnoisebelow——theopeningofthestreetdoorandtheheavytreadoffeetinthehall——broughtmetoatemporarystandstill.Ilookedcautiouslyoverthebalustrade,andsawtwomengoacrosstotheroomontheleft.
　　Oneofthemspokeasheentered,chidingtheotherknaves,I
　　fancied,forleavingthedoorunbarred;andthetone,thoughnotthewords,echoingsullenlyupthestaircase,struckafamiliarchordinmymemory.ThevoicewasFresnoy's!
　　CHAPTERX.
　　THEFIGHTONTHESTAIRS.
　　Thecertainty,whichthissoundgaveme,thatIwasintherighthouse,andthatitheldalsothevillaintowhomIowedallmymisfortunes——forwhobutFresnoycouldhavefurnishedthebrokencoinwhichhaddeceivedmademoiselle?——hadasingularlyinspiritingeffectuponme.Ifelteverymuscleinmybodygrowontheinstant;hardassteel,myeyesmorekeen,myearssharper——allmysensesmoreaptandvigorous.Istoleofflikeacatfromthebalustrade,overwhichIhadbeenlooking,andwithoutasecond'sdelaybeganthesearchformademoiselle'sroom;reflectingthatthoughthegarrisonnowamountedtofour,I
　　hadnoneedtodespair.IfIcouldreleasetheprisonerswithoutnoise——whichwouldbeeasywerethekeyinthelock——wemighthopetopassthroughthehallbyatourdeforceofonekindoranother.Andachurch-clockatthismomentstrikingFive,andremindingmethatwehadonlyhalfanhourinwhichtodoallandreachthehorses,Iwasthemoreinclinedtorisksomething.
　　ThelightwhichIhadseenfrombelowhunginaflat-bottomedlanternjustbeyondtheheadofthestairs,andoutsidetheentrancetooneoftwopassageswhichappearedtoleadtothebackpartofthehouse.SuspectingthatM.deBruhl'sbusinesshadlainwithmademoiselle,Iguessedthatthelighthadbeenplacedforhisconvenience.Withthisclueandthepositionofthewindowtoguideme,Ifixedonadoorontherightofthispassage,andscarcelyfourpacesfromtheheadofthestairs.
　　BeforeImadeanysign,however,Ikneltdownandascertainedthattherewasalightintheroom,andalsothatthekeywasnotinthelock.
　　Sofarsatisfied,Iscratchedonthedoorwithmyfinger-nails,atfirstsoftly,thenwithgreaterforce,andpresentlyIheardsomeoneintheroomrise.Ifeltsurethatthepersonwhoeveritwashadtakenthealarmandwaslistening,andputtingmylipstothekeyholeIwhisperedmademoiselle'sname.
　　Afootstepcrossedtheroomsharply,andIheardmutteringjustwithinthedoor.IthoughtIdetectedtwovoices.ButIwasimpatient,and,gettingnoanswer,whisperedinthesamemannerasbefore,'MademoiselledelaVire,areyouthere?'
　　Stillnoanswer.Themuttering,too,hadstopped,andallwasstill——intheroom,andinthesilenthouse.Itriedagain.'ItisI,GastondeMarsac,'Isaid.'Doyouhear?Iamcometoreleaseyou.'IspokeasloudlyasIdared,butmostofthesoundseemedtocomebackonmeandwanderinsuspiciousmurmuringsdownthestaircase.
　　Thistime,however,anexclamationofsurpriserewardedme,andavoice,whichIrecognisedatonceasmademoiselle's,answeredsoftly:
　　'Whatisit?Whoisthere?'
　　'GastondeMarsac,'Ianswered.'Doyouneedmyhelp?'
　　Theverybrevityofherreply;thejoyfulsobwhichaccompaniedit,andwhichIdetectedeventhroughthedoor;thewildcryofthankfulness——almostanoath——ofhercompanion——all.theseassuredmeatoncethatIwaswelcome——welcomeasIhadneverbeenbefore——and,soassuringme,bracedmetotheheightofanyoccasionwhichmightbefall.
　　'Canyouopenthedoor?Imuttered.AllthetimeIwasonmyknees,myattentiondividedbetweentheinsideoftheroomandthestraysoundswhichnowandthencameuptomefromthehallbelow.'Haveyouthekey?'
　　'No;wearelockedin,'mademoiselleanswered.
　　Iexpectedthis.'Ifthedoorisboltedinside,'Iwhispered,'unfastenit,ifyouplease!'
　　Theyansweredthatitwasnot,sobiddingthemstandbackalittlefromit,Iroseandsetmyshoulderagainstit.Ihopedtobeabletoburstitinwithonlyonecrash,whichbyitself,asinglesound,mightnotalarmthemendownstairs.Butmyweightmadenoimpressionuponthelock,andtheoppositewallbeingtoofardistanttoallowmetogetanypurchaseformyfeet,I
　　presentlydesisted.Theclosenessofthedoortothejambswarnedmethatanattempttopriseitopenwouldbeequallyfutile;andforamomentIstoodgazinginperplexityatthesolidplanks,whichbidfairtobafflemetotheend.
　　Thepositionwas,indeed,oneofgreatdifficulty,norcanInowthinkofanywayoutofitbetterorotherthanthatwhichI
　　adopted.AgainstthewallneartheheadofthestairsIhadnoticed,asIcameup,astoutwoodenstool.Istoleoutandfetchedthis,andsettingitagainsttheoppositewall,endeavouredinthiswaytogetsufficientpurchaseformyfeet.
　　Thelockstillheld;but,asIthrewmywholeweightonthedoor,thepanelagainstwhichIleanedgavewayandbrokeinwardswithaloud,crashingsound,whichechoedthroughtheemptyhouse,andmightalmosthavebeenbeardinthestreetoutside.
　　Itreachedtheears,atanyrate,ofthemensittingbelow,andI
　　heardthemtroopnoisilyoutandstandinthehall,nowtalkingloudly,andnowlistening.Aminuteofbreathlesssuspensefollowed——itseemedalongminute;andthen,tomyrelief,theytrampedbackagain,andIwasfreetoreturntomytask.Anotherthrust,directedalittlelower,would,Ihoped,dothebusiness;
　　buttomakethisthemorecertainIkneltdownandsecuredthestoolfirmlyagainstthewall.AsIroseaftersettlingit,somethingelse,withoutsoundorwarning,rosealso,takingmecompletelybysurprise——aman'sheadabovethetopstair,which,asithappened,facedme.Hiseyesmetmine,andIknewIwasdiscovered.
　　Heturnedandbundleddownstairsagainwithascaredface,goingsoquicklythatIcouldnothavecaughthimifIwould,orhadhadthewittotry.Ofsilencetherewassolongerneed.Inafewsecondsthealarmwouldberaised.Ihadsmalltimeforthought.Layingmyselfbodilyagainstthedoor,Iheavedandpressedwithallmystrength;butwhetherIwascarelessinmyhaste,orthecausewasother,thelockdidnotgive.Insteadthestoolslipped,andIfellwithacrashonthefloorattheverymomentthealarmreachedthemenbelow.
　　Irememberthatthecrashofmyunluckyfallseemedtoreleasealltheprisonednoisesofthehouse.Afaintscreamwithintheroomwasbutaprelude,lostthenextmomentintheroarofdismay,theclatterofweapons,andvolleyofoathsandcriesandcurseswhich,rollingupfrombelow,echoedhollowlyaboutme,asthestartledknavesrushedtotheirweapons,andchargedacrosstheflagsandupthestaircase.Ihadspaceforonedesperateeffort.Pickingmyselfup,Iseizedthestoolbytwoofitslegsanddashedittwiceagainstthedoor,drivinginthepanelIhadbeforesplintered.Butthatwasall.Thelockheld,andIhadnotimeforathirdblow.Themenwerealreadyhalfwayupthestairs.Inabreathalmosttheywouldbeuponme.Iflungdowntheuselessstoolandsnatchedupmysword,whichlayunsheathedbesideme.Sofarthematterhadgoneagainstus,butitwastimeforachangeofweaponsnow,andtheendwasnotyet.I
　　sprangtotheheadofthestairsandstoodthere,myarmbymysideandmypointrestingonthefloor,insuchanattitudeofpreparednessasIcouldcompassatthemoment.
　　ForIhadnotbeeninthehouseallthistime,asmaywellbesupposed,withoutdecidingwhatIwoulddoincaseofsurprise,andexactlywhereIcouldbeststandonthedefensive.Theflatbottomofthelampwhichhungoutsidethepassagethrewadeepshadowonthespotimmediatelybelowit,whilethelightfellbrightlyonthestepsbeyond.StandingintheshadowIcouldreachtheedgeofthestairswithmypoint,andswingthebladefreely,withoutfearofthebalustrade;andhereIpostedmyselfwithacertaingrimsatisfactionasFresnoy,withhisthreecomradesbehindhim,cameboundingupthelastflight.
　　Theywerefourtoone,butIlaughedtoseehow,notabruptly,butshamefacedlyandbydegrees,theycametoastandhalfwayuptheflight,andlookedatme,measuringthestepsandtheadvantagewhichthelightshiningintheireyesgaveme.
　　Fresnoy'suglyfacewasrendereduglierbyagreatstripofplaisterwhichmarkedtheplacewherethehiltofmyswordhadstruckhiminourlastencounteratChize;andthisandthehatredheboretomegaveapeculiarmalevolencetohislook.
　　ThedeafmanMatthew,whosesavagestolidityhadmorethanonceexcitedmyangeronourjourney,camenexttohim,thetwostrangerswhomIhadseeninthehallbringinguptherear.Ofthefour,theselastseemedthemostanxioustocometoblows,andhadFresnoynotbarredthewaywithhishandweshouldhavecrossedswordswithoutparley.
　　'Halt,willyou!'hecried,withanoath,thrustingoneofthemback.Andthentomehesaid,'So,so,myfriend!Itisyou,isit?'
　　Ilookedathiminsilence,withascornwhichknewnobounds,anddidnotsomuchashonourhimbyraisingmysword,thoughI
　　watchedhimheedfully.
　　'Whatareyoudoinghere?hecontinued,withanattemptatbluster.
　　StillIwouldnotanswerhim,ormove,butstoodlookingdownathim.Afteramomentofthis,hegrewrestive,histemperbeingchurlishandimpatientatthebest.Besides,Ithinkheretainedjustsomuchofagentleman'sfeelingsasenabledhimtounderstandmycontemptandsmartunderit.Hemovedastepupward,hisbrowdarkwith###第7章.
　　'Youbeggarlysonofascarecrow!'hebrokeoutonasudden,addingastringoffoulimprecations,'willyouspeak,orareyougoingtowaittobespittedwhereyoustand?Ifweoncebegin,mybantam,weshallnotstopuntilwehavedoneyourbusiness!
　　Ifyouhaveanythingtosay,sayit,and——'ButIomittherestofhisspeech,whichwasfoulbeyondtheordinary.
　　StillIdidnotmoveorspeak,butlookedathimunwavering,thoughitpainedmetothinkthewomenheard.Hemadealastattempt.'Come,oldfriend,'hesaid,swallowinghisangeragain,orpretendingtodoso,andspeakingwithavilebonhomiewhichIknewtobetreacherous,'ifwecometoblowsweshallgiveyounoquarter.Butonechanceyoushallhave,forthesakeofolddayswhenwefollowedConde.Go!Takethechance,andgo.Wewillletyoupass,andthatbrokendoorshallbetheworstofit.Thatismore,'headdedwithacurse,'thanIwoulddoforanyothermaninyourplace,M.deMarsac.'
　　Asuddenmovementandalowexclamationintheroombehindmeshowedthathiswordswereheardthere;andthesesoundsbeingfollowedimmediatelybyanoiseasofrivingwood,mingledwiththequickbreathingofsomeonehardatwork,Ijudgedthatthewomenwerestrivingwiththedoor——enlargingtheopeningitmightbe.Idarednotlookround,however,toseewhatprogresstheymade,nordidIanswerFresnoy,savebythesamesilentcontempt,butstoodwatchingthemenbeforemewiththeeyeofafencerabouttoengage.AndIknownothingmorekeen,morevigilant,moresteadfastthanthat.
　　ItwaswellIdid,forwithoutsignalorwarningthegroupwaveredamoment,asthoughretreating,andthenextinstantprecipitateditselfuponme.Fortunately,onlytwocouldengagemeatonce,andFresnoy,Inoticed,wasnotofthetwowhodashedforwardupthesteps.Oneofthestrangersforcedhimselftothefront,and,takingthelead,pressedmebriskly,Matthewsecondinghiminappearance,whilereallywatchingforanopportunityofrunninginandstabbingmeatclosequarters,amanoeuvreIwasnotslowtodetect.
　　Thatfirstboutlastedhalfaminuteonly.Afierceexultantjoyranthroughmeasthesteelrangandgrated,andIfoundthatI
　　hadnotmistakenthestrengthofwristorposition.Themenweremine.Theyhamperedoneanotheronthestairs,andfoughtinfetters,beingunabletoadvanceorretreat,tolungewithfreedom,orgivebackwithoutfear.IapprehendedgreaterdangerfromMatthewthanfrommyactualopponent,andpresently,watchingmyopportunity,disarmedthelatterbyastrongparade,andsweepingMatthew'sswordasidebythesamemovement,slashedhimacrosstheforehead;then,drawingbackastep,gavemyfirstopponentthepoint.Hefellinaheaponthefloor,asgoodasdead,andMatthew,droppinghissword,staggeredbackwardsanddownwardsintoFresnoy'sarms.