It ran right and left, and Tignonville did not know which way he must turn to reach the lower staircase.

Yet he dared not hesitate; in the passage, waiting about the doors, were four or five servants, and in the distance he caught sight of three men belonging to Tavannes' company.

At any moment, too, an upper servant might meet them, ask what they were doing, and detect the fraud.
He turned at random, therefore--to the left as it chanced--and marched along bravely, until the very thing happened which he had feared.

A man came from a room plump upon them, saw them, and held up his hands in horror.
"What are you doing ?" he cried in a rage and with an oath.

"Who set you on this ?" Tignonville's tongue clave to the roof of his mouth.