“M. le Duc,” I cried, “we have not a moment to lose! There are forty guards at the door. We must go, and quickly.”
“Upon my soul it is de Brancas!” exclaimed Richelieu. “And where have you been all day, my friend?”
“Do not stop for questioning, I beg of you,” I panted. “Is there any other way out of this house?”
“I do not know. I will see,” and the princess ran to the door, where we heard her rapidly interrogating the old woman. At that moment a thunderous knock sounded on the door below and echoed through the house.
“Oh, monsieur, what is happening?” cried a voice which made me start. “Is this another trap?”
“It looks very much like it, Mlle. Dacour,” replied Richelieu, gloomily, and turned towards the door with frowning face.
There was a second knock louder than the first, which shook the house and made the windows rattle.
“Open or we will force an entrance!” cried a voice outside.
There was an instant’s silence, and the princess came back to us, her face white with fear.
“There is no way of getting out except by the door below,” she faltered.