‘Ah! Monsieur, the very man!’ he cried. ‘Quick! come this instant, lose not a moment, and you may yet be first. They have the secret! The soldiers have found Monsieur!’
‘Found him?’ I echoed. ‘M. de Cocheforet?’
‘No; but they know the place where he lies. It was found by accident. The Lieutenant was gathering his men when I came away. If we are quick, we may yet be first.’
‘But the place?’ I said.
‘I could not hear,’ he answered bluntly. ‘We must hang on their skirts, and at the last moment strike in. It is the only way, Monsieur.’
The pair of pistols I had taken from the shock-headed man lay on a chest by the door. Without waiting for more I snatched them up and my hat, and joined him, and in a moment we were running down the garden. I looked back once before we passed the gate, and I saw the light streaming out through the door which. I had left open; and I fancied that for an instant a figure darkened the gap. But the fancy only strengthened the one single purpose, the iron resolve, which had taken possession of me and all my thoughts. I must be first; I must anticipate the Lieutenant; I must make the arrest myself. I must be first. And I ran on only the faster.
We were across the meadow and in the wood in a moment. There, instead of keeping along the common path, I boldly singled out—my senses seemed to be preternaturally keen—the smaller trail by which Clon had brought us. Along this I ran unfalteringly, avoiding logs and pitfalls as by instinct, and following all its turns and twists, until we came to the back of the inn, and could hear the murmur of subdued voices in the village street, the sharp low word of command, and the clink of weapons; and could see over and between the houses the dull glare of lanthorns and torches.
I grasped my man’s arm, and crouched down listening. When I had heard enough, ‘Where is your mate?’ I said in his ear.
‘With them,’ he muttered.
‘Then come,’ I whispered rising. ‘I have seen what I want. Let us go.’