"This way!" gasped the old man.
He pulled at Jacqueline's arm, and half led and half dragged her through the open door behind his chair, I following. Lacroix sprang into the room, called, but whether to us or to the other ruffians I did not know. Leroux sat up and looked about him, dazed and bewildered.
Then I was in the little room with Jacqueline and Duchaine, and he turned and bolted the door behind us. He seemed possessed of all the strength and decision of youth again.
When I stood there before the room had been as dark as pitch, but now a flicker of light was at the far end. A voice cried:
"M'sieur! M'sieur! I have not forgotten thee!"
It was Pierre Caribou. I saw his figure silhouetted against the light of the flaring candle which he held in his hand.
Duchaine had placed one arm about his daughter's waist, and was urging her along. But she stopped and looked back to me. I saw she held one broadsword in her hand, as I held the other.
"Come, monsieur!" she gasped.
But I was too mad with the desire to make an end of Leroux to accompany her. I wanted to go back. I tried to find the bolt of the door in the gloom, but while my fingers were fumbling for it Jacqueline came running back to me.
"Quick, or we are lost!" she cried.