"Lock the door; we must wait," said Barrington.
It was done in a moment, and immediately there were stealthy, shuffling feet in the passage without.
"Curse them," muttered Seth. "I have been followed. For all my care I have brought you into ruin. What can we do?"
"Wait."
"Master Richard, is there no other way of escape from that roof below?"
"None."
Jeanne's hand was still in his, still holding him tightly. He could not feel that she trembled, yet he could not trust himself to speak to her. He had failed to rescue her. There were many in the passage without, he was sure of that. He could fight for her, die for her, but he could not save her. He dared not speak to her lest he should cry out in the anguish of his soul.
The handle of the door was tried, gently. Then there was silence again.
"Give us the woman and you may go free."
The words were not spoken loudly. It seemed like the offer of a secret bargain, a suggestion in it that the woman might not hear, and might never know that her companions had betrayed her to save themselves.