They were not satisfied, however, and they watched me diligently as
we came on to the chateau.
I could not bear that they should be frightened about their
children, so I said:
"Make for me a sacred oath, and I will swear by it that those
toys will do your children no harm."
I drew out the little wooden cross that Mathilde had given me,
and held it up. They looked at me astonished. What should I, a
heretic and a Protestant, do with this sacred emblem? "This
never leaves me," said I; "it was a pious gift."
I raised the cross to my lips, and kissed it.
"That's well," said Bamboir to his comrade. "If otherwise, he
should have been struck down by the Avenging Angel."
We got back to the chateau without more talk, and I was locked
in, while my guards retired. As soon as they had gone I got to
work, for my great enterprise was at hand.
At ten o'clock I was ready for the venture. When the critical
moment came, I was so arrayed that my dearest friend would not have
known me. My object was to come out upon my guards as La Jongleuse,
and, in the fright and confusion which should follow, make my
escape through the corridors and to the entrance doors, past the
sentinels, and so on out.
Pages:
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423