the door
increased each second, and began to be mingled with angry appeals to
Fanchette to open, and with threats in case she delayed. I cut the
matter short by snatching up one of the saddle-bags--the other we left
behind--and flung back the curtain which covered the window. At the same
time the woman dashed out the light--a timely precaution--and throwing
open the casement I stepped on to the balcony, the others following me
closely.

The moon had risen high, and flooding with light the small open space
about the house enabled me to see clearly all round the foot of the
ladder, to my surprise Fresnoy was not at his post, nor was he to be
seen anywhere; but as, at the moment I observed this, an outcry away to
my left, at the rear of the chateau, came to my ears, and announced
that the danger was no longer confined to the interior of the house,
I concluded that he had gone that way to intercept the attack. Without
more, therefore, I began to descend as quickly as I could, my sword
under one arm and the bag under the other.

I was half-way down, and mademoiselle was already stepping on to the
ladder to follow, when I heard footsteps below, and saw him run up, his
sword in his hand.

'Quick, Fresnoy!' I cried. 'To the horses and unfasten them! quick!'

I slid down the rest of the way, thinking he had gone to do my bidding.
But my feet were scarcely on the ground when a tremendous blow in the
side sent me staggering three paces from the ladder. The attack was
so sudden, so unexpected, that but for the sight of Fresnoy's scowling
face, wild with rage, at my shoulder, and the sound of his fierce
breathing as he strove to release his sword, which had passed through my
saddle-bag, I might never have known who struck the blow, or how narrow
had been my escape.

Fortunately the knowledge did come to me in time, and before he freed
his blade; and it nerved my hand. To draw my-blade at such close
quarters was impossible, but, dropping the bag which had saved my life,
I dashed my hilt twice in his face with such violence that he fell
backwards and lay on the turf, a dark stain growing and spreading on his
upturned face.

It was scarcely done before the women reached the foot of the ladder and
stood beside me. 'Quick!' I cried to them, 'or they will be upon us.'
Seizing mademoiselle's hand, just as half-a-dozen men came running round
the corner of the house, I jumped with her down the haha, and, urging
her to her utmost spee