"If the least thing happens, let me be awakened. . . . If not, I shall sleep through the night. . . . Go to your posts, all of you."
The others left the room.
Suddenly, M. Lenormand felt some one touch him and Gourel said to him:
"Get up, chief; they have opened the gate."
"One man or two?"
"I only saw one . . . the moon appeared just then . . . he crouched down against a hedge."
"And the brothers Doudeville?"
"I sent them out by the back. They will cut off his retreat when the time comes."
Gourel took M. Lenormand's hand, led him downstairs and then into a little dark room: