“Really,” declared Bernin, “I have never seen a more exciting game.”
“The excitement is yet to come, monsieur,” I cried, and a glance told me that the two remaining guards were in the room. “You see there are now only four guards at liberty, although those within the castle are permitted to harass the prisoner as much as is in their power. But those outside have grown wary. They advance more cautiously. They may still be able to surround and overpower the prisoner. Ah, an opening! The prisoner sees it. He is out in an instant. He has another captive.” The six men were grouped about me and I could feel their breath in my hair.
“Yes, yes,” cried Bernin, “I see. It is most interesting.”
“The most interesting part is yet to come, monsieur,” I repeated. “Remember, the prisoner, to win the game, must not only get all the guards within the castle, but must so dispose them that he can himself escape.”
“True,” and Bernin nodded, “but how will he do it, monsieur?”
“I will show you in a second,” I said, and at that instant, apparently by accident, let the candle fall. “One moment, gentlemen,” I cried. “I will bring another candle, and will show you the conclusion of this interesting game.”
I sprang into the outer room as though to get another candle. In an instant I slammed the door and shot the bolt. They comprehended my purpose and were hammering at the door almost before I could turn, but in the same moment I had seized a chair and with a single blow dashed out the window. I heard the door cracking, and the guard on the staircase without, hearing the noise, were throwing the bolts of the outer door to enter. Even as the one door opened and the other gave way I was through the window, hung a second from the sill, and let myself drop. I shot downward with the speed of a cannon-ball, as it seemed to me, struck the water feet first with a mighty splash, and disappeared beneath it.
I battled madly to regain the surface, and came up like a cork. The darkness concealed me, but from the lighted window I had just left half a dozen excited faces were peering. I heard hoarse shouts of alarm, and some one discharged a musket in my direction, the ball ripping up the water near my head. Without delaying a moment I swam as rapidly as I could towards the opposite quay, and as I gained it I heard renewed shouts behind me, and saw a dozen men, holding aloft flaming torches, tumbling into a boat. Luckily, in that moment I found a landing-place, ran up it quickly to the quay above, and in an instant had mingled with the crowd.
CHAPTER XV
RICHELIEU STANDS HIS GROUND
I knew that I had no time to lose, and I hurried along the quay as rapidly as the crowd would permit, hoping to arrive at the Hotel de Richelieu before the duke left the house. The half-hour was striking as I reached my destination, entered the court, and knocked at the door. It was Jacques who opened.