A bulky man with a bearded face, the same whom they had seen at the grating, was standing in the centre of the group of armed men issuing his orders.
"To the upper dungeon, Simon!" he cried.

"And see that they have two bundles of straw and a loaf of bread until we learn our master's will." "I know not who your master may be," said De Catinat, "but I would ask you by what warrant he dares to stop two messengers of the king while travelling in his service ?" "By St.Denis, if my master play the king a trick, it will be but tie and tie," the stout man answered, with a grin.

"But no more talk! Away with them, Simon, and you answer to me for their safe-keeping." It was in vain that De Catinat raved and threatened, invoking the most terrible menaces upon all who were concerned in detaining him.

Two stout knaves thrusting him from behind and one dragging in front forced him through a narrow gate and along a stone-flagged passage, a small man in black buckram with a bunch of keys in one hand and a swinging lantern in the other leading the way.

Their ankles had been so tied that they could but take steps of a foot in length.