s I
took in, and then turned to La Marmotte.

"Monsieur," she said, "that house is where Antoine de Mouchy lives, and
where, within an hour's time, he is to meet the Vidame and some others
to discuss their plan. If you would learn it you must learn it from
there." And she pointed to the window above me.

I was about to speak, but she stopped me.

"Listen! I know that house from garret to cellar, for I lived there
once. That window leads to an empty room. A door to the right leads
into De Mouchy's study, which looks over the Rue de la Harpe, and
standing at that door you can hear every word that passes within. Will
you risk it?"

"The getting there is possible, but it is the retreat that I am
doubtful of."

"I have provided for that." And opening a box that lay near her she
pulled out a short coil of stout rope with an iron hook fixed at each
end.

"Fasten one hook to the window there, and throw me the rope. I will
fasten the other here, and you will have a passage back. I will wait
here for you."

I glanced out of the window again. On the left was the Passage of Pity
with its dreary, deserted houses, on the right, above me, was a glimpse
of sky. Now and again we heard the cooing of pigeons and the flutter
of their wings amongst the eaves, but except for this there was no
sound, and we were perfectly unobserved.

Removing my boots and discarding my sword I climbed out of the window,
resting my feet on the ledge beneath it. Cautiously rising to a
standing position I found I could see clearly into the room opposite.
It was unoccupied, but, so far from being empty, was filled with books
and piles of documents. It looked, indeed, as if M. de Mouchy's study
had overrun itself into this room. I had, however, made up my mind to
take the risk of being present at this meeting whatever the cost might
be, and so after another and careful look began the attempt. Between
the opposite window and myself was a gap of a little over three feet,
so that it was impossible to reach there. Thanks, however, to the
forethought of La Marmotte I was enabled to overcome this difficulty,
and after a couple of tries, during which the noise made was such as
would have certainly aroused attention had anyone been at hand, I
succeeded in fixing one of the iron hooks attached to the rope to the
ledge of the window. Then, after a strain to test the rope, I let
myself swing across the chasm, and found foothold on the opposite
l