“We seek M. Vastic. Open at once.”
“There is nobody here of that name. We open the door to no one at this time of night.”
“We shall break it in,” said the voice. “Open, in the name of the Emperor.”
“Tell them to break it in if they can,” said I, and Ivan gave the reply; whereupon they commenced to hammer and bang at the door with such a clatter that the mere noise itself ought to have roused my suspicions. But my wits were as dull as a dunce’s to their ruse; and I had not a thought of their trick until a loud noise with a great smashing of glass at the back of the house told us their object had been merely to distract our attention downstairs while the real attack was delivered on an upper floor.
“Go to Boreski, mademoiselle,” I cried as I dashed up the broad stairway, followed by Ivan and the men. The others had rushed up by a back staircase and met us on the landing.
“Where have they got in?” I asked.
“That room,” said one of them, pointing to a door. A glance at it showed me the key was outside, and in a moment I had turned it upon those within. Not a second too soon. As the lock shot home the handle was rattled by some one inside.
Ivan had seen me and immediately rushed through into an adjoining room where I heard him lock and bolt the door.
“The room leads into this dressing-room, monsieur,” he said as he came out. “But the door is only a slight one and will not keep them back.”
I went in and examined it, and, coming to the same conclusion, promptly abandoned it as a point of defence. I then sent Ivan to fetch Boreski, and while he was away thought out an impromptu scheme for defending the landing place.