Even then, at that awful moment, he rejoiced at his precaution in having desired de Lescure to close the garden door.

He took a large horse pistol from his belt, and holding it by the barrel, jumped down three stairs at a time, and already had his foot on the sill of the open window, when serjeant Craucher, who had been the first of the blues to enter the house, rushing up the stairs, succeeded in getting hold of the cloak which covered Marie.

He pulled it from off her neck and shoulders, and her beautiful dark clustering curls fell down over Henri's shoulder.

Her pale face, and white neck and bosom were exposed: her eyes were fast closed, as though she expected instant death, but both her arms were tightly fastened round her lover.
Craucher stumbled in his hurry in rushing up the stairs, but he still held fast to the collar of the cloak.
"I must stop your further journey, my pretty dear," said he: "the night air is not good for you--by heavens it's the red--" He never finished his speech, or attempted to make another.

On entering the back door he had struck his brazen head-piece against the lintel; the shock had broken the clasp, and his head was consequently bare.