"Quick!—Come along!"
It was Valméras.
They went up two storys and came out at the entrance to a corridor, covered by a hanging.
"To the right," whispered Valméras. "The fourth room on the left."
They soon found the door of the room. As they expected, the captive was locked in. It took them half an hour, half an hour of stifled efforts, of muffled attempts, to force open the lock. The door yielded at last.
Beautrelet groped his way to the bed. His father was asleep.
He woke him gently:
"It's I—Isidore—and a friend—don't be afraid—get up—not a word."
The father dressed himself, but, as they were leaving the room, he whispered:
"I am not alone in the castle—"
"Ah? Who else? Ganimard? Shears?"
"No—at least, I have not seen them."
"Who then?"
"A young girl."
"Mlle. de Saint-Véran,
