“My horse! Is it ready? Quick!”
“Yes, Sire,” whispered Denis, and Francis uttered a quick low “Hah!” as he gathered up the reins and prepared to mount, his two companions following his example, just as the lit-up window was dashed out by some heavy blow, the glass coming tinkling down upon the stones outside, and a hoarse voice that Denis knew only too well roared out:
“Guard, here! Guard! Help! In the King’s name! Guard!”
As the last words came hoarsely forth on to the night air, clang, clang, clang, burst out the tocsin of the alarm bell, silencing the music in the ballroom and sending an electric thrill through every listener within the precincts of the castle; but ere the great bell had sent forth a score of vibrating notes which came quivering through the darkness and echoing from every wall, the clattering of hoofs began in obedience to the whispered commands of his Majesty of France:
“Draw, draw, and all together to the gates. Then lead, Leoni, and ride hard—straight away, man, for the south.”
The horses had not made a dozen strides before their sharp hoof clatterings upon the paved court gave place to the dull thud, thud, returned from gravel, while before a hundred yards had been passed over, a couple of lanterns began to dance here and there right before them, their dull yellow rays being reflected from the broad blades of halberds borne by men who were evidently forming up in obedience to a shouted order, before making for the castle.
The horsemen needed no command. They knew what they had to do—to charge right through the night watch assembling from the guard-room; and this they did.
There were shouts, commands to stop in the King’s name, the impact of horse and man, and the clatter and jangle of steel against steel, as the fugitives rode their opponents down, kept together, and dashed on for another hundred yards or so, and then were brought up short by that which had not entered into their calculations, for they simultaneously drew rein as Saint Simon, fully excited now, roared in a voice of thunder; “The gates are shut!”
The King uttered a low gasp, and it was Leoni who said sharply:
“Only the great gates. The doorway—is it right or left?”