If you linger here you
surely disappear from men tomorrow!"
"How do you know these things, Weber?"
"I have been in the house three or four hours and there is talk among
the soldiers. I pray you, don't hesitate longer!"
"How can you find a way?"
"Wait a minute."
He slipped back to the door, opened it and looked into the hall.
"The path is clear," he said, when he returned. "There is no sentinel
near your door, and I've found a way leading out of the chateau at the
back. Most of these old houses have crooked, disused passages."
"But suppose we succeed in reaching the outside, Weber, what then? The
place is surrounded by an army."
"A way is there, too. One man in the darkness can pass through a
multitude. We can't delay, because another chance may not come!"
John was overborne. Weber was half pulling him toward the door.
Moreover, there was much sense in what the Alsatian said. It was a
commonplace that he could be of more service to Julie alive than dead,
and the man's insistence deciding him, he crept with the Alsatian into
the hall. They stood a few minutes in the dark, listening, but no sound
came. Evidently the house slept well.
"This way, Mr. Scott," whispered Weber, and he led toward the rear of
the house. Turning the corner of the hall he opened a small door in the
wall, which John would have passed even in the daylight without
noticing.
"Put a hand on my coat and follow me," said Weber.
John obeyed without hesitation, and they ascended a half dozen steps
along a passage so narrow that his shoulders touched the walls.
Pages:
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297