own the gallery which led
to the little inclosure. At last they reached the tennis court. It was
completely deserted. No sentinels, no one at any of the windows. The
duke ran to the rampart and perceived on the other side of the ditch,
three cavaliers with two riding horses. The duke exchanged a signal with
them. It was indeed for him that they were there.

Grimaud, meantime, undid the means of escape.

This was not, however, a rope ladder, but a ball of silk cord, with
a narrow board which was to pass between the legs, the ball to unwind
itself by the weight of the person who sat astride upon the board.

"Go!" said the duke.

"First, my lord?" inquired Grimaud.

"Certainly. If I am caught, I risk nothing but being taken back again to
prison. If they catch thee, thou wilt be hung."

"True," replied Grimaud.

And instantly, Grimaud, sitting upon the board as if on horseback,
commenced his perilous descent.

The duke followed him with his eyes, with involuntary terror. He had
gone down about three-quarters of the length of the wall when the cord
broke. Grimaud fell--precipitated into the moat.

The duke uttered a cry, but Grimaud did not give a single moan. He must
have been dreadfully hurt, for he did not stir from the place where he
fell.

Immediately one of the men who were waiting slipped down into the moat,
tied under Grimaud's shoulders the end of a cord, and the remaining two,
who held the other end, drew Grimaud to them.

"Descend, my lord," said the man in the moat. "There are only fifteen
feet more from the top down here, and the grass is soft."

The duke had already begun to descend. His task was the more difficult,
as there was no board to support him. He was obliged to let himself down
by his hands and from a height of fifty feet. But as we have said he was
active, strong, and full of presence of mind. In less than five minutes
he arrived at the end of the cord. He was then only fifteen feet from
the ground, as the gentlemen below had told him. He let go the rope and
fell upon his feet, without receiving any injury.

He instantly began to climb up the slope of the moat, on the top of
which he met De Rochefort. The other two gentlemen were unknown to him.
Grimaud, in a swoon, was tied securely to a horse.

"Gentlemen," said the duke, "I will thank you later; now we have not a
moment to lose. On, then! on! those who love me, follow me!"

And he jumped on his horse and set off at full gallop, s