Then Servigny, seeing his struggling legs which sought a resting place, pulled them downward with all his strength; the hands lost their grip and the Prince fell in a heap on Monsieur de Belvigne, who was coming to aid him. "Whose turn next?" asked Servigny. No one claimed the privilege.
"Come, Belvigne, courage!"
"Thank you, my dear boy, I am thinking of my bones."
"Come, Chevalier, you must be used to scaling walls."
"I give my place to you, my dear Duke."
"Ha, ha, that is just what I expected."
Servigny, with a keen eye, turned to the pillar. Then with a leap, clinging to the balcony, he drew himself up like a gymnast and climbed over the balustrade.
All the spectators, gazing at him, applauded. But he immediately reappeared, calling:
"Come, quick! Come, quick! Yvette is unconscious." The Marquise uttered a loud cry, and rushed for the stairs.
The young girl, her eyes closed, pretended to be dead. Her mother entered distracted, and threw her self upon her.