faction, which at any other time would have made M. de Beaufort
laugh heartily, "you would not have the heart to kill me?"

"No, if you do not oppose my flight."

"But, Monseigneur, if I let you escape, I am a ruined man."

"I will pay you the value of your office."

"And if I defend myself, or call out?"

"By the honour of a gentleman, you die upon the spot!"

At this moment the clock struck.

"Seven o'clock," said Grimaud, who had not yet uttered a word.

La Ramee made a movement. The duke frowned, and the unlucky jailer
felt the point of the dagger penetrate his clothes, and press against
his breast.

"Enough, Monseigneur," cried he; "I will not stir. But I entreat you
to tie my hands and feet, or I shall be taken for your accomplice."

The duke took off his girdle, and gave it to Grimaud, who tied La
Ramee's hands firmly behind his back. La Ramee then held out his legs;
Grimaud tore a napkin into strips, and bound his ankles together.

"And now the gag!" cried poor La Ramee; "the gag! I insist upon it; or
they will hang me for not having given the alarm."

In an instant La Ramee was gagged, and laid upon the ground; two or
three chairs were overturned, to make it appear that there had been a
struggle. Grimaud took from La Ramee's pockets all the keys that they
contained, opened the room-door, shut and double-locked it when the
duke and himself had passed out, and led the way to the court. This
the fugitives reached without accident or encounter, and found it
entirely deserted; no sentinels, nor any body at the windows that
overlooked it. The duke hurried to the rampart, and saw upon the
further side of the moat three horsemen and two led horses. He
exchanged a sign with them; they were waiting for him. Meanwhile
Grimaud was fastening the rope by which the descent was to be
effected. It was not a ladder, but a silken cord rolled upon a stick,
which was to be placed between the legs, and become unrolled by the
weight of the person descending.

"Go," said the duke.

"First, Monseigneur?" asked Grimaud.

"Certainly," was the reply; "if I am taken, a prison awaits me; if you
are caught, you will be hung."

"True," said Grimaud; and putting himself astride the stick, he
commenced his perilous descent. The duke followed him anxiously with
his eyes. About three quarters of the distance were accomplished, when
the cord broke, and Grimaud fell into the moat. M. de Beaufort uttered
a cry; but Grimaud said n