"I heard the door close," she said, "three minutes ago." "And if Monsieur can reach the room in which he supped last night, the window that was broken is only blocked"-- she swallowed once or twice in her excitement--"with something he can move.

And then Monsieur is in the street, where his cowl will protect him." "But Count Hannibal's men ?" he asked eagerly.
"They are eating in the lodge by the door." "Ha! And they cannot see the other room from there ?" Javette nodded.

Her tale told, she seemed to be unable to add a word.
Mademoiselle, who knew her for a craven, wondered that she had found courage either to note what she had or to bring the news.

But as Providence had been so good to them as to put it into this woman's head to act as she had, it behoved them to use the opportunity--the last, the very last opportunity they might have.
She turned to Tignonville.

"Oh, go!" she cried feverishly.