"We can hold the roof! Up, man, for your life! For your life! It is our only chance!" With the fear of death upon him, the other needed no second telling.

He turned, and groped upwards in haste; and Claude followed, treading on his heels; nor a moment too soon.

While they were still within the staircase, which their elbows rubbed on either side, they heard the enemy swarm into the room below.

Cries of triumph, of "Savoy! Savoy!" of "Ville gagnee! gagnee!" hummed dully up to them, and proclaimed the narrowness of their escape.

Then the night air met their faces, they bent their heads and passed out upon the leads; they had above them the stars, and below them all the world of night, with its tramp of hidden feet, its swaying lights so tiny and distant, and here and there its cry of "Savoy! Savoy!" that showed that the enemy, relying on their capture of the Porte Neuve, were casting off disguise.
Claude heard and saw all, but lost not a moment.