"Nanon, call your women," said Canolles, "and bid them come hither with all your packages, and your footman with your money. Perhaps I am mistaken, perhaps nothing will happen to-night; but never mind, let us be ready."
"Qui vive?" cried the sergeant's voice in the underground passage.
Another voice replied, but in a friendly tone.
"Hark," said Canolles, "they have come for you."
"There is no attack as yet, dear heart; all is quiet. Let me stay with you; they will not come."
As Nanon ceased to speak, the cry of "Qui vive?" rang out thrice in the inner court-yard, and the third time it was followed by the report of a musket.
Canolles darted to the window, and threw it open.
"To arms!" cried the sentinel, "to arms!"
Canolles saw a black, moving mass in one corner; it was the enemy pouring forth in floods from a low, arched doorway opening into a cellar used as a wood-house, to which there was no doubt some secret issue.
"There they are!" cried Canolles; "hurry! there they are!"