THE TRAP.
The attic door was torn open, and three men in blue cloth blouses and wearing masks of black paper came in. The first was thin, and carried an iron—shod cudgel; the second, who was a species of Colossus, held a butcher's pole-axe by the middle of the handle, with the hatchet down; while the third, a broad-shouldered fellow, not so thin as the first but not stout as the second, was armed with an enormous key stolen from some prison-gate. It seemed as if Jondrette had been awaiting the arrival of these men, and a hurried conversation took place between him and the man with the cudgel.
"Is all ready?" asked Jondrette.
"Yes," the thin man replied.
"Where is Montparnasse?"
"That jeune premier has stopped to talk to your eldest daughter."
"Is there a coach down there?"
"Yes."
"With two good horses?"
"Excellent."