Virginie was weeping loudly, but the elder girls, although their cheeks bore traces of many tears they had shed during the night, restrained them now.

When they reached Harry, the lad, without a word, took the lamp from Marie's hand, and led the way along the corridor and down the stairs towards the back of the house.
Everything was quiet.

The knocking, loud as it was, had not yet aroused the servants, and, drawing the bolt quietly, and blowing out the lamp, Harry led the way into the garden behind the house.
Then for a moment he paused.

There was a sound of axes hewing down the gate which led from the garden into the street behind.
"Quick, mesdemoiselles!" he said.

"There is no time to lose." He took they key out of the door, and closed and locked it after him.