What is the good of surprising our friends ?" Storming parties and surprises were no novelty and therefore no treat to Raynal.
"It will be so delightful to see their faces at first sight of you.

O colonel, for my sake! Don't spoil it by going tamely in at the front door, after coming at night from Egypt for half an hour." Raynal grumbled something about its being a childish trick; but to please Edouard consented at last; only stipulated for a light: "or else," said he, "we shall surprise ourselves instead with a broken neck, going over ground we don't know to surprise the natives--our skirmishers got nicked that way now and then in Egypt." "Yes, colonel, I will go first with Jacintha's candle." Edouard mounted the stairs on tiptoe.

Raynal followed.

The solid stone steps did not prate.

The men had mounted a considerable way, when puff a blast of wind came through a hole, and out went Edouard's candle.