a stratagem as old
as the hills, yet ever fresh, and not seldom successful.

It was no time for over-refinement. My knaves were beginning to stray
forward out of curiosity, and at any moment one of our horses, scenting
those of the enemy, might neigh and give the alarm. Hastily calling
M. d'Agen and Maignan to me, I laid my plan before them, and satisfied
myself that it had their approval; the fact that I had reserved a
special part for the former serving to thaw the reserve which had
succeeded to his outbreak of the night before. After some debate Maignan
persuaded me that the old woman had not sufficient nerve to play the
part I proposed for her, and named Fanchette; who being called into
council, did not belie the opinion we had formed of her courage. In
a few moments our preparations were complete: I had donned the old
charcoal-burner's outer rags, Fanchette had assumed those of the woman,
while M. d'Agen, who was for a time at a loss, and betrayed less taste
for this part of the plan than for any other, ended by putting on the
jerkin and hose of the man who had served us as guide.

When all was ready I commended the troop to Maignan's discretion,
charging him in the event of anything happening to us to continue the
most persistent efforts for mademoiselle's release, and on no account
to abandon her. Having received his promise to this effect, and being
satisfied that he would keep it, we took up each of us a great faggot,
which being borne on the head and shoulders served to hide the features
very effectually; and thus disguised we boldly left the shelter of the
trees. Fanchette and I went first, tottering in a most natural fashion
under the weight of our burdens, while M. d'Agen followed a hundred
yards behind. I had given Maignan orders to make a dash for the gate the
moment he saw the last named start to run.

The perfect stillness of the valley, the clearness of the air, and the
absence of any sign of life in the castle before us--which might have
been that of the Sleeping Princess, so fairy-like it looked against the
sky--with the suspense and excitement in our own breasts, which these
peculiarities seemed to increase a hundred-fold, made the time that
followed one of the strangest in my experience. It was nearly ten
o'clock, and the warm sunshine flooding everything about us rendered
the ascent, laden as we were, laborious in the extreme. The crisp,
short turf, which had scarcely got its spring growth, was