"Of course, directly we heard that you had been seized and carried into Toulouse, I cast about for the best means to save you.
To attempt it by force would have been simple madness; and any other plan would have required time, powerful friends, and a knowledge of the city, and even then we should probably have failed to get you out of prison.

This being so, it was evident that the best plan was to seize some of the citizens of importance, who might serve as hostages.

There was no difficulty in finding out, from a small cultivator, who were the principal men living outside the walls; and their capture was as easy a business.

Scarcely a blow was struck, and no lives lost, in capturing the whole of them." "But some of the men are missing," D'Arblay said.
"Yes; five of your men, I am sorry to say.

On getting back to the wood after dark I sent them, as you ordered, to fetch you from Monsieur de Merouville's; but of course you had been captured before that, and they fell into an ambush that was laid for them, and were all killed." "That is a bad business, Philip.
"Well, Monsieur de Merouville, will you go with us, or will you trust in this safeguard ?" "In the first place, you have not given me a moment's opportunity of thanking this gentleman; not only for having saved the lives of my wife and myself, but for the forethought and consideration with which he has, in the midst of his anxiety for you and Monsieur de Laville, shown for us who were entire strangers to him.
"Be assured, Monsieur Fletcher, that we are deeply grateful.