rather lose a hand
than my life."

I pushed his musket down. "Why should you fret? I am leaving the
chateau to-morrow for another prison. You fools, d'ye think I'd harm the
children? I know as little of the devil or La Jongleuse as do you. We'll
solve the witcheries of these sounds, you and I, to-night. If they come,
we'll say the Lord's Prayer, and make the sacred gesture, and if it goes
not, we will have one of your good priests to drive out this whining
spirit."

This quieted them much, and I was glad of it, for they had looked
bloodthirsty enough, and though I had a weapon on me, there was little
use in seeking fighting or flight till the auspicious moment. They were
not satisfied, however, and they watched me diligently as we came on to
the chateau.

I could not bear that they should be frightened about their children, so
I said:

"Make for me a sacred oath, and I will swear by it that those toys will
do your children no harm."

I drew out the little wooden cross that Mathilde had given me, and held
it up. They looked at me astonished. What should I, a heretic and a
Protestant, do with this sacred emblem? "This never leaves me," said I;
"it was a pious gift."

I raised the cross to my lips, and kissed it.

"That's well," said Bamboir to his comrade. "If otherwise, he should
have been struck down by the Avenging Angel."

We got back to the chateau without more talk, and I was locked in, while
my guards retired. As soon as they had gone I got to work, for my great
enterprise was at hand.

At ten o'clock I was ready for the venture. When the critical moment
came, I was so arrayed that my dearest friend would not have known me.
My object was to come out upon my guards as La Jongleuse, and, in the
fright and confusion which should follow, make my escape through the
corridors and to the entrance doors, past the sentinels, and so on out.
It may be seen now why I got the woman's garb, the sheet, the horsehair,
the phosphorus, the reeds, and such things; why I secured the knife and
pistol may be guessed likewise. Upon the lid of a small stove in the
room I placed my saltpetre, and I rubbed the horsehair on my head with
phosphorus, also on my hands, and face, and feet, and on many objects
in the room. The knife and pistol were at my hand, and when the clock
struck ten, I set my toys to wailing.

Then I knocked upon the door with solemn taps, hurried back to the
stove, and waited for the door to open before I a