e terrified gardener
placed the keys in his hands. Bertram then tied him to a tree, and left
the poor wretch, almost frightened to death, exposed to the drizzling
rain which now began to fall.

When he returned to the gate, he found his companions impatient to gain
admittance, and poor Pere Tranchard begging in whispers to be released
from his elevated situation, assuring them that it was too dark to see
anything or anybody from his post, and that the place was too narrow for
him to continue there any longer. Bertram laughed, and told him to come
down; that they had no need any longer for his valuable services as a
look-out.

When Develour and his companions entered the garden, Caleb, who had
hitherto remained inactive, took the command of the little party, and
every one obeyed at once, as if it had been expected that he would lead
the attack. He divided them into two divisions, one to be led by
Develour and Bertram, and the other by himself and Filmot, but told them
that they were to separate only when the servants and followers should
have been secured in the hall of the domestics. He then ordered them all
to cover their faces with the masks, and advance. A few minutes brought
them to the very door of the hall in which the domestics and others in
the pay of the conspirators were already carousing, and were so
completely absorbed in political disputes and drinking wine, filched
from the supply for the supper-room, that they did not observe the
intruders until they were surrounded. Before they had time to recover
from the surprise, they were seized, disarmed, and tied, and instant
death was threatened to everyone in case of any attempt at an alarm.
After the servants and guards had been thus disposed of, Caleb said to
Develour--

"Thou and Bertram must now secure the masters. Let Bertram speak; it is
better that thy voice be not recognized. Endeavor, above all things, to
gain the lower part of the room, and lock the small door thou wilt see
there. Here we separate. I leave the men with thee, if thy friend will
volunteer to be my companion."

"Willingly," replied Filmot. "Lead the way."

When the two had passed out of the room, Bertram said to Tranchard--

"Now, worthy pere, can you tell us how many doors lead out of that
supper-room into some of the secret recesses of this rat-trap?"

"Your companion with the broad-brimmed hat seems to know; for he has
told you to take care of the lower door."

"Is there no ot