we freed it when the trumpet
sounded again, and with a rattling of chains the huge pontlevis rose.

"Faith! 'twas a narrow thing. Had we been but a minute later the Scot
would have barred all egress." And Le Brusquet looked back at the gate
through which we had passed. It lay on the other side of the
pontlevis--the fosse between us--and was of angular shape, surmounted
by a statue of Charles V. of France, and, as De Lorgnac said, was
already doomed to destruction to make way for the improvements
contemplated by the King.

It was midnight now, and the streets were almost deserted, though here
and there were groups of people collected together for mutual
protection. As time was short we decided to take the Rue St. Thomas du
Louvre despite its ill-paved and noisome condition. Passing the
fountain near the Marche des Innocents we turned up by the St. Eustache
into the Tiquetonne, and thence Rue Tire Boudin was but a short step.
I need not say with what joy the good Pierrebon received me, and after
a light supper--in which, I fear, I did but scant justice to De
Lorgnac's Joue--I determined to snatch an hour or so of rest before
starting. Before doing so, however, Lorgnac took me to see the horses.
They looked what he said they were--good, stout roadsters. I asked him
his price, but, as I expected from one of his generous nature, he
offered them to me as a gift. This I was determined not to accept, and
finally, after much persuasion, he took forty crowns of the sun for the
two. This was barely their worth, but nothing would induce him to
accept a denier more.

The valise I had packed contained the requisites for a journey, and
having changed my attire I decided to take such rest as I could get in
a chair until it was time to start. I seemed to have barely closed my
eyes when I was awakened again by the touch of a hand on my shoulder.
It was Le Brusquet.

"_Eh bien_," he said, "but you sleep like an honest man! It has gone
three. The horses are ready, and De Lorgnac and Pierrebon await you
below. Come!"

So saying he led the way down. We had to go to the stables, and in the
yard were the two horses ready saddled. Lorgnac was also there, and to
my surprise I saw that he too was mounted.

"I will see you to the gates," he explained as he caressed his horse, a
magnificent grey charger.

"And as for me," said Le Brusquet, "I will wish you good fortune here,
and a safe return, and the sword you lent me is in