"Mademoiselle, who opens the sluices of the ditch when you make your skating-pond?"
"Jacques the gardener."
"Thank you! I will go to him."
He turned at once to descend. As he came to the head of the staircase he noticed a mass of coloured stuff lying at the foot of the belfry.
"Ah, the flag!" he said. "Thank you, Mademoiselle!"
A glance upward assured him that the running-line was in order; then without another word he went down. Finding the gardener, he hurried with him to the park entrance. His wagons were drawn up outside. He ordered three of his teamsters to drive their carts into the thicket beyond the outbuilding down the road.
"The enemy will have a rearguard," he said. "As soon as that has well passed, bring your wagons into the road and block it between the wall and the canal. I will send a dozen men and two of the dragoons to remain in hiding with you. Now, Jacques, go to the ditch and open the sluices. How long will it take to flood the field to a depth of seven or eight inches?"
"Not more than half an hour, Monsieur."
"Very well. Stay; have you a boat anywhere on the estate?"
"A punt, Monsieur. I go to market in it on the canal."