At the same time the woman dashed out the light--a timely precaution--and throwing open the casement I stepped on to the balcony, the others following me closely.
The moon had risen high, and flooding with light the small open space about the house enabled me to see clearly all round the foot of the ladder, to my surprise Fresnoy was not at his post, nor was he to be seen anywhere; but as, at the moment I observed this, an outcry away to my left, at the rear of the chateau, came to my ears, and announced that the danger was no longer confined to the interior of the house, I concluded that he had gone that way to intercept the attack.

Without more, therefore, I began to descend as quickly as I could, my sword under one arm and the bag under the other.
I was half-way down, and mademoiselle was already stepping on to the ladder to follow, when I heard footsteps below, and saw him run up, his sword in his hand.
'Quick, Fresnoy!' I cried.

'To the horses and unfasten them! quick!' I slid down the rest of the way, thinking he had gone to do my bidding.
But my feet were scarcely on the ground when a tremendous blow in the side sent me staggering three paces from the ladder.

The attack was so sudden, so unexpected, that but for the sight of Fresnoy's scowling face, wild with rage, at my shoulder, and the sound of his fierce breathing as he strove to release his sword, which had passed through my saddle-bag, I might never have known who struck the blow, or how narrow had been my escape.
Fortunately the knowledge did come to me in time, and before he freed his blade; and it nerved my hand.

To draw my-blade at such close quarters was impossible, but, dropping the bag which had saved my life, I dashed my hilt twice in his face with such violence that he fell backwards and lay on the turf, a dark stain growing and spreading on his upturned face.
It was scarcely done before the women reached the foot of the ladder and stood beside me.