“Monsieur,” cried Richelieu, “you have just said that your mission here concerns only myself. If I accompany you without resistance have I your word that no one else in this house will be molested?”
“You have my word, monsieur,” answered Hérault, who had not perceived me in the dim light of the hall and thought only that Richelieu was trying to protect the princess.
“Oh, do not do this; we may yet escape!” I implored, but the duke silenced me with a smile.
“On those conditions I surrender,” he said. “I will come down to you, M. Hérault,” and he started to descend, but paused as he perceived a sudden commotion at the door.
“A messenger for M. Hérault!” cried some one.
“What is it?” asked Hérault.
A man forced his way up the staircase and to Hérault’s side.
“Bernin,” cried the latter, “what are you doing here?”
“I have to report, monsieur,” he said, humbly, “that my prisoner has escaped.”
“Escaped!” exclaimed Hérault. “Impossible! How could one unarmed man defeat six guards and wade through twenty more?”