Prosper seemed to suddenly remember something.
“There is a ladder here,” he cried.
“Why did you not tell me that before? Where is it?”
“At the end of the garden, under the trees.”
They ran to the spot, and in a few minutes had the ladder standing against the wall.
But to their chagrin they found the ladder six feet too short. Six long feet of wall between the top of the ladder and the lighted window was a very discouraging sight to Prosper; he exclaimed:
“We cannot reach it.”
“We can reach it,” cried M. Verduret triumphantly.
And he quickly placed himself a yard off from the house, and, seizing the ladder, cautiously raised it and rested the bottom round on his shoulders, at the same time holding the two uprights firmly and steadily with his hands. The obstacle was overcome.
“Now mount,” he said to his companion.