But the advantage of the stairs lay with the first comer, who was the uppermost, and gradually he bore Claude back and back.

The young man, however, would not let go such hold as he had, and both were on the point of falling out on the floor of the guard-room when the light disclosed Claude's face.
"You are of us!" his opponent panted.

And abruptly he released his grip.
"Geneva!" "I know you!" The man was one of the guard who, in the alarm, had escaped into the stairway.

"I know you! You live in the Corraterie!" Claude wasted not a second.

"Up!" he cried.