"The key is in the lock!" She had her wits, too, then, and her courage! He felt a glow of pride, his arm pressed her more closely to him.

"Unlock it!" he answered, and leaving her to it, having now no fear that she would faint or fall, he turned on the rabble with his bar.
But they were for words, not blows, a rabble of cowards and women.

They turned tail with screams and fled to a distance, more than one falling in the sudden _volte-face_.

He made no attempt to pursue them along the rampart, but looked behind him, and found that she had opened the door.
She had taken out the key, and was waiting for him to enter.
He went up the steps, entered, and she closed the door quickly.

It shut out in a moment the hootings of the returning women.