Robert Briquet, meanwhile, had drawn near to the porter's lodge, which had two windows, one looking toward Paris and the other into the country.

From this post he saw a man, who, coming from Paris at full gallop, entered the lodge and said, "Here I am, M.de Loignac." "Good.

Where do you come from ?" "From the Porte St.Victor." "Your number ?"--"Five." "The cards ?" "Here they are." De Loignac took them, examined them, and wrote on a slate the number five.

The messenger left, and two others appeared, almost immediately.
One came from the Porte Bourdelle, and brought the number four, the other from the Porte du Temple, and announced six.

Then came four others.