And now, fighting still, Garnache called to Valerie.

He had need of her assistance to make his preparations ere others came.
"Set down your tapers, mademoiselle," he bade her, "on the mantel shelf at my back.

Place the other candle branch there too." Swiftly, yet with half-swimming senses, everything dim to her as to one in a nightmare, she ran to do his bidding; and now the light placed so at his back, gave him over his opponents the same slight advantage that he had enjoyed before.

In brisk tones he issued his fresh orders.
"Can you move the table, mademoiselle ?" he asked her.

"Try to drag it here, to the wall on my left, as close to the door as you can bring it." "I will try, monsieur," she panted through dry lips; and again she moved to do his bidding.