"About four charges, but we shall not need it," replied Dessaignes. "Wait; I'll give them their answer."
The warders hammered vainly at the door.
"Gentlemen," called Dessaignes, "we may be induced to capitulate, but we shall not yield to force. You had better desist. We have powder enough here to blow the Abbaye to the gate of heaven."
A murmur of alarm arose on the other side of the door, and silence followed.
"You see!" observed Dessaignes, "these pious chaps will not mount unprepared into the presence of their Maker!"
The posse of warders was, in fact, withdrawn.
"But what shall we do next?" asked Desforges.
"For the present," said Dessaignes, "we shall wait. They will be wanting to make terms with us."
But the night passed, and no offer of capitulation was received. Two other things lacking were, supper in the evening and breakfast in the morning. The enemy had apparently changed their tactics; the blockade of the prisoners was complete, and so was the famine. The day wore on, and night came again; but not the paltriest offer of terms, nor a bowl of thin soup. The next day broke with a prospect as barren.
Towards noon a deputation was heard approaching.