If you had five hundred men, and could gather them for a sudden attack on the jail, and had a couple of cannon to blow in the gate, I should say it might be possible; and even then the chance of its being all done, and the fugitives got safely away, before the arrival of some three thousand troops would be very doubtful." At this moment the servant brought in a note.
"Who brought this ?" Monsieur Desailles asked.
"It was a woman, monsieur.

She did not wait for an answer." The advocate opened it.

It was written in pencil.
"Dear Jules, Martin is on his feet denouncing you.

Hostile vote certain.

Escape at once." After reading it, he handed it to Jean.
"That settles it," he said.