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REPARATION.
Things came to pass that night as I had planned, and the fates which of late had smiled upon me were kind unto the end.
Soon after ten, and before the moon had risen, a silent procession wended its way from the chateau to the river.

First went Montresor and two of his men; next came the Chevalier with Mademoiselle, and on either side of them a trooper; whilst I, in head-piece and back and breast of steel, went last with Mathurin, the sergeant--who warmly praised the plan I had devised for the conveyance of M.de Canaples to Paris without further loss of time.
Two boats which I had caused to be secretly procured were in readiness, and by these a couple of soldiers awaited us, holding the bridles of eight horses, one of which was equipped with a lady's saddle.

Five of these belonged--or had belonged--to the Chevalier, whilst the others were three of those that had brought the troop from Paris, and which I, in the teeth of all protestations, had adjudged sufficiently recovered for the return journey.
The embarkation was safely effected, M.de Canaples and Mademoiselle in one boat with Montresor, Mathurin, and myself; the sergeant took the oars; Montresor and I kept watch over our prisoner.

In the other boat came the four troopers, who were to accompany us, and one other who was to take the boats, and Montresor in them, back to Canaples.