I ran rapidly through the bunch I had taken from him, trying one after another, but not one would throw back the bolt.
“Come, let us go down again,” cried Fronsac. “I have still the musket,” and he started down the stair.
I caught at the door and pulled at it savagely. It swung open in my hand.
Then I saw what fools we had been. Small wonder none of our keys would throw the bolt, since it was already thrown! Roquefort must have passed that way to gain the parapet. Then he must still be there! And my heart was beating savagely as we stole through the door and up a short flight of steps. In a moment I saw the stars above me and felt the fresh air of the night upon my face.
Darkness had come in earnest, and even here, high on the parapet, there was only the dim light of the stars. I feared that at the first turn we should run into a sentry, but we had no time to waste in hesitation.
“Do not fire!” I cautioned Fronsac. “What we do must be done silently,” and gripping my poniard—Drouet’s poniard—tightly, I stepped out. For a moment I could see nothing, and then, away in front of us, I caught a glimpse of two dim figures.
Fronsac saw them in the same instant, and would have sprung forward but that I held him back.
“Softly,” I whispered. “Softly. We must surprise him, or he will outwit us yet. Give him an instant’s warning, and he might hold us off till aid arrived. We must take no chances.”
“As you will,” he answered sullenly, and I saw he was hot to be at Roquefort as was I.
I crouched low into the shadow of the battlement, and, motioning Fronsac to follow, stole slowly forward. As we drew near I saw that Roquefort still held the girl by the arm.