The Woodman promised not to be a moment, and hastened to the Count de Blenau’s apartment, where the wary sentinel, as usual, examined him well to ascertain his identity before he gave him admission. He then entered and communicated as rapidly as possible to De Blenau the message he had received.
“It is Mademoiselle de Hauteford, without doubt,” said De Blenau thoughtfully; “I must see her by all means.”
“See her, Sir!” exclaimed Philip. “The guard will never let her pass. It is quite impossible.”
“Not so impossible as you think. The gates of the inner court do not shut, I think, till nearly nine—Is there any one in the court?”
“No one, Sir,” answered the Woodman; “all the State prisoners were locked up at six.”
“Well then, Philip,” proceeded De Blenau, “do you know a small tower in the court, where you just see through the archway part of an old flight of steps?”
“Oh yes, I know it well,” replied Philip. “The tower is never used now, they tell me. There is a heap of rubbish in the doorway.”
“Exactly,” said the Count. “Now, my good Philip, bring the lady with all speed to that tower, and up the old flight of steps till you come to a small iron door: push that with your hand, and you will find that it brings you into the inner room, where I will wait for you.”
Philip’s joy and astonishment found vent in three Bon Dieu’s! and three Est-il possible's and rushing away without more loss of time, he flew to Pauline, whose stay in his cell had been undisturbed by any thing but her own anxious fears. These, however, magnified every sound into the approach of some one to be dreaded. Even the footstep of the Woodman made her heart beat with alarm; but the news he brought far more than compensated for it, and, inspired with new hope, she followed him gladly through the gloomy passages which led to the inner court.
The darkness which pervaded the unlighted avenues of the Bastille was so great, that Pauline was obliged to follow close upon Philip’s footsteps for fear of losing her way. The Woodman, however, was a little in advance, when a faint light showed that they were approaching the open air, and Pauline began to catch an indistinct glimpse of the dark towers that surrounded the inner court. But at that moment Philip drew back:—“There is some one in the court,” he whispered: “Hark!"—and listening, she clearly heard the sound of measured steps crossing the open space before her.