“Let us get out,” said the masculine voice, “and take a look about for ourselves.”
The door opened.
“No,” said the female voice; “let me get down; I will manage it,”—and she leaped nimbly to the earth.
“Madame—madame!” said the voice of a child; “let me get out with you.”
“No, Louis,” said the lady; “stay in the carriage with your papa; I shall come back in a moment. Give me your arm, M. de Valory.”
The courier approached, respectfully, his hat in his hand, and offered his arm to the lady who asked it.
“Here,” said she; “just here is a door opening.”
But as she spoke the words, though in the slightest degree open, it was shut again.
M. de Valory jumped forward, and, at the risk of cutting his hand, seized the door on his side, and pulled it violently backward.