e uttered an exclamation of dismay.

"You here, mademoiselle!" he cried.

"Yes, I have been here three days."

"But the order releases only two persons!" he exclaimed, sorrowfully.

Antoinette did not understand him; she had heard nothing about the order
to which he alluded; but Dolores quickly approached Coursegol and said,
hurriedly, in a low voice:

"Not another word. Give me the order. When the proper time comes, it
shall be used by those who have the best right to it."

Coursegol reluctantly obeyed. He was convinced that Dolores would
concentrate all her efforts upon the deliverance of Philip and
Antoinette; and he almost hated the latter who, for the second time,
imperiled the life and happiness of one so dear to him.

"Before, it was her presence in the chateau that prevented the marriage
of my dear Dolores to the man she loved; to-day, after I have worked so
hard to secure their liberty and the realization of their hopes, it is
she who destroys all my plans," he thought. Perhaps he would have given
vent to his feelings had not Dolores, who seemed to read what was
passing in his mind, made an imperative sign; so he withdrew and went to
join Philip, and to tell him that the order was in the hands of Dolores.

"It will not be used," said Philip, sadly. "If it would open the prison
doors for two women, I could induce them to go; but since I must go out
with one of them, and as neither will consent to save her life at the
cost of the other's, we shall all remain."

"Then all my efforts will be lost," cried Coursegol, despairingly; "and
I shall be compelled to see you perish after I have accomplished
miracles in order to save you."

And tears of anger and disappointment sprang to his eyes.

Philip calmed him by explaining how impossible it would be for two to
avail themselves of an opportunity to escape and abandon their friend
to her fate. If one was forsaken by the others, eternal remorse would be
the portion of those who deserted her; hence, they must make their
escape together or await the denouement.

Coursegol promised to do his best to obtain an order which could be used
by three persons; and he left the prison towards evening, telling his
friends that he would see them again in a few days and even sooner, if
possible.

While he was there, Antoinette, Dolores, and Philip had repaired, as if
by common consent, to the main hall; and when he had gone, the three
young people found themselves together