by G. A. Henty
CHAPTER XII -- IN HIDING
The news of this terrible danger was so wholly unexpected that Guy for amoment felt almost paralyzed.
"It seems almost incredible that such wickedness could take place!" heexclaimed.
"My information is certain," the count replied. "I do not say that I thinkyour Burgundian friends are in so much danger as some of those of theking's party, as Burgundy's influence with these Parisians goes forsomething; still, he might not be able to save them if they waited tillthe demand was made, although he might warn them if he learned that theywere to be among those demanded."
"Does the duke, then, know what is intended?"
The count smiled. "We know what followed the last reconciliation," hesaid, "and can guess pretty shrewdly at what will happen now. _Then_ theduke murdered Orleans, _now_ he may take measures against the supportersof the present duke. It was certain that the struggle would begin again assoon as the kiss of peace had been exchanged. Last time he boldly avowedhis share in the murder; this time, most conveniently for him, theParisians are ready and eager to do his work for him. Dismiss from yourmind all doubt; you can rely upon everything that I have told you as beingtrue. Whether you can convince these young knights is a matter thatconcerns me not; but remember that if you fail to convince your mistress,her life and those of her children are forfeited; and that, so far as Ican see, her only hope of safety is in taking refuge here."
"I thank you with all my heart," Guy said, "and will now set aboutcarrying out your advice. First, I will return to my lady and consult withher, and see what we had best do with the men. As to Count Charlesd'Estournel and his friends, I will see them as soon as I have arrangedthe other matter. Their case is not so pressing, for, at least, when oncebeyond the gates they will be safe. I will see that my lady and thechildren shall be ready to accompany your daughter when she comes forthem."
"Look well up and down the street before you sally out," the count said;"see that there are but few people about. It is a matter of life and deaththat no one who knows you shall see you leave this house."
Guy followed his advice, and waited until there was no one within fiftyyards of the door, then he went out, crossed the street, took the firstturning he came to, and then made his way back to the silversmith's asfast as he could.
"What ails you, Guy?" Dame Margaret said as he entered the room, "you looksorely disturbed, and as pale as if you had received some injury."
"Would that that were all, my lady. I have had news from the Count ofMontepone of so strange and grave a nature that I would not tell you it,were it not that he is so much in earnest, and so well convinced of itstruth that I cannot doubt it."
He then related what the count had told him, and repeated the offer ofshelter he had made.
"This is, indeed, beyond all bounds," she said. "What, is it credible thatthe Duke of Burgundy and the king's son, the Duke of Aquitaine, can handover to this murderous mob of Paris noble gentlemen and ladies?"
"As to Burgundy, madame, it seems to me from what the count said that hehimself is at the bottom of the affair, though he may not know that theParisians demand the lives of some of his own knights as well as those ofhis opponents. As he did not of old hesitate to murder Orleans, the king'sown brother, we need credit him with no scruples as to how he would ridhimself of others he considers to stand in his way. As to Aquitaine, he isa young man and powerless. There are no Orleanist nobles in the town towhom he might look for aid; and if a king's brother was slain, why not aking's son? It seems to me that he is powerless."
"That may be; but I cannot consent to what the count proposes. What!disguise myself! and hide from this base mob of Paris! It would be anunworthy action."
"It is one that I knew you would shrink from, madame; but pardon me forsaying that it is not your own life only, but those of your children thatare at stake. When royal princes and dukes are unable to oppose thesescoundrel Parisians, women and children may well bend before the storm."
Dame Margaret sat for some time with knitted brows. At last she said: "Ifit must be, Guy, it must. It goes sorely against the grain; but for thesake of the children I will demean myself, and will take your advice. Nowyou had best summon the four men-at-arms and talk over their case withthem."
Guy went upstairs and fetched the four men down.
"We have sure news, my friends," Dame Margaret said calmly, "that to-nightwe and many others shall be seized by the mob and slain."
An exclamation of rage broke from the four men.
"There will be many others slain before that comes about," Long Tom said.
"That I doubt not, Tom, but the end would be the same. An offer of refugehas been made to me and the children, and for their sake, unwilling as Iam to hide myself from this base mob, I have brought myself to accept it.My brave esquire will stay in Paris in disguise, and do what may be toprotect us. I have now called you to talk about yourselves. The gates willspeedily be guarded and none allowed to sally out, therefore what is to bedone must be done quickly."
"We will all stay and share your fate, madame. You could not think that weshould leave you," Robert Picard said, and the others murmured theiragreement.
"You would add to my danger without being able to benefit me," she said,"and my anxiety would be all the greater. No, you must obey my commands,which are that you forthwith quit Paris. Beyond that I must leave you tojudge your own course. As French men-at-arms none would question you whenyou were once beyond the gate. You may find it difficult to travel in thisdisturbed time, but you are shrewd enough to make up some story that willaccount for your movements, and so may work your way back to Villeroy. Thedifficulty is greater in the case of your English comrade--his height andthat light hair of his and ruddy face would mark him anywhere, and if hegoes with you would add to your danger, especially as his tongue wouldbetray him as being English the first time he spoke. However, beyondordering you to quit Paris, I must leave this matter in your hands andhis, and he will doubtless take counsel with my esquire and see if anydisguise can be contrived to suit him. I will see you again presently. Youhad best go with them, Guy, and talk the matter over."
"This thing cannot be done, Master Guy," the archer said doggedly whenthey reached their apartments; "it is not in reason. What should I saywhen I got home and told them at Summerley that I saved my own skin andleft our dear lady and the children to be murdered without striking a blowon their behalf? The thing is beyond all reason, and I will maintain it tobe so."
"I can understand what you say, Tom, for I feel exactly as you do. Thequestion is, how is the matter to be arranged?" Then he broke into French,which the archer by this time understood well enough, though he couldspeak it but poorly.
"Tom is saying that he will not go, men," he said, "and I doubt not thatyou feel as he does. At the same time our lady's orders must be carriedout in the first place, and you must leave Paris. But I say not that youneed travel to any distance; on the contrary, I should say that, if it canbe arranged, you must return here in a few days, having so changed yourattire and aspect that there is no fear of your being recognized, andbestow yourself in some lodging where I may find you if there be need ofyour services."
"That is what will be best, Master Guy," Robert Picard said. "We have butto get steel caps of another fashion to pass well enough, and if need bewe can alter the fashion of our hair. There are few here who have noticedus, and I consider that there is no chance whatever of our beingrecognized. There are plenty of men among the cut-throats here who haveserved for a while, and we can easily enough get up some tale that willpass muster for us three. That matter is simple enough, the question is,what are we to do with Tom? We cannot shorten his stature, nor give histongue a French twist."
"No, that is really the difficulty. We might dye that hair of his anddarken his face, as I am going to do myself. There are tall men in France,and even his inches would not matter so much; the danger lies in hisspeech."
"I would never open my mouth, Master Guy; if need were I wo
uld sooner cutout my tongue with a dagger."
"You might bleed to death in the doing of it, Tom. No; we must think ofsomething better than that. You might perhaps pass as a Fleming, if wecannot devise any other disguise."
"Leave that to me, Master Guy, I shall think of something. I will at anyrate hide somewhere near Paris, and the lads here will let me know wherethey are to be found, and I shall not be long before I join them in somesuch guise as will pass muster. But it will be necessary that we shouldknow where you will be, so that you can communicate with us."
"That I don't know myself yet; but I will be every evening in front ofNotre Dame when the bell strikes nine, and one of you can meet me thereand tell me where you are bestowed, so that I can always send for you incase of need. Now I think that you had better lose no time, for we knownot at what hour a guard will be placed on the gate. You had better go outin pairs as if merely going for a walk. If you are stopped, as may wellhappen, return here; but as you come purchase a length of strong rope, sothat you may let yourselves down from the wall. Now that peace has beenmade, there will be but slight watch save at the gates, and you shouldhave no difficulty in evading the sight of any who may be on guard."
"That will be easy enough," Robert Picard said confidently. "We had bestnot come back here, for there may be a watch set upon the house and theymay follow us."
"The only thing that troubles me," Tom said, "is that I must leave my bowbehind me."
"You can get another when you get back to Villeroy; there are spare onesthere."
"Yes, yes, but that is not the same thing, Master Guy; a man knows his ownbow, and when he takes to a fresh one his shooting is spoilt until he getsto know it well. Every bow has its niceties; for rough shooting it makesbut little matter, but when it comes to aiming at the slit in a knight'svizor at eighty yards one makes poor shooting with a strange bow."
"Well, you must practise with your new one, that is all, Tom; and if youhide yours here it may be that you will be able to recover it before westart for Villeroy. You must leave your bundles behind, it would looksuspicious if you were to attempt to take them with you. I should adviseyou to put on one suit over the other, it will not add greatly to yourbulk. When you are ready to start, come below and our lady will say good-bye to you. Do not give her a hint that you are thinking of staying nearParis; if she asks any questions say that you intend to disguise Tom, andhe will travel with you."
A few minutes later there was a tapping at Dame Margaret's door; Guyopened it and the four men entered.
"I wish you good fortunes, my friends," Dame Margaret said. "Here is aletter, Robert, that I have written to my lord telling him that you haveall served me faithfully and well, and that I commend you to him. I havetold him that you are leaving me by my special orders, and that you wouldwillingly have stopped and shared my danger, but that, as I feel thatforce would avail nothing and your presence might lead to the discovery ofmy hiding-place, I bid you go. Here are four purses to pay the expenses ofyour journey and of any disguises you may find it necessary to adopt. Andnow farewell. Tarry not an instant, my heart will be lighter when I knowthat you are beyond the walls."
She held out her hand to them; each in turn knelt and kissed it, the threeFrenchmen in silence but with tears running down their cheeks. Tom was thelast, and said as he rose:
"I am obeying your orders, Lady Margaret, but never before have I felt, asI feel now, that I am doing a mean and cowardly action. I would ratherstay by your side, though I knew that I should be cut in pieces this verynight, than leave you thus."
"I doubt it not, Tom. I know well how your inclinations lie, and yet Ifeel that it is necessary that you should go. If the great nobles cannotwithstand this cruel mob of Paris, the arm of a single man can availnothing, and your presence would bring danger rather than safety to me."
"I feel that, my lady; did I not do so I would not go even at yourcommand. You are my liege lady, and I have a right to give my life foryou, and would do it were it not that I see that, as you say, my stayinghere would bring danger upon you."
As soon as they had gone Dame Margaret said: "Now, Guy, I will detain youno longer; hasten and warn your friends."
Guy hurried away; he found that Count Charles was on the point of mountingto go for a ride with some of his friends.
"Stay a moment I beg of you, Count," Guy said as he hurried up, "I have amatter of most serious import to tell you."
"Wait, my friends," the young count said to Sir Pierre Estelle, CountWalter de Vesoul, and the Sieur John de Perron, who were already mounted;"I shall not detain you many minutes."
"Well, what is it, friend Guy?" he asked as he entered his room.
"I have come to warn you of a great danger, Count. This evening a mob ofParisians, I know not how numerous, but at least of great strength, willdemand from Burgundy and the Duke of Aquitaine the surrender to them ofyou and the others who took part in defeating them the other night,besides other gentlemen, and, as I hear, ladies."
"_Pardieu_! if it be so the duke will give the impudent knaves theiranswer."
"Ten thousand armed men are not apt to take an answer, Count. You knowthat many times already the Duke of Burgundy has been overborne by theleaders of these Parisians and forced to do things that must havedispleased him, as they displeased you all, therefore I implore you toride off while you may. Even now it is possible that the gales may beclosed, but if so, they are not likely to be strongly guarded. It isevident that your going would at any rate save the duke from graveembarrassment."
"Are you sure that this news is true?" the count asked.
"Absolutely certain. If you would save yourself and your friends I prayyou to call upon them at once to mount and ride in a body to one of thegates. You may bid some of your retainers mount and follow you at a shortdistance, and if you find the gates closed and the fellows will not letyou out, call them up and fight your way out. You can stay for to-night atSevres, and if you find in the morning that I have not spoken truly youcan return and upbraid me as you will. If, however, you find that strangeevents have happened here, then you had best ride away to Burgundy andstay there until you find that these villainous knaves here have beenreduced to order, which methinks it will need an army to undertake."
The count went to the window, opened it, and called his friends below tocome up.
"No, no," D'Estelle said laughing; "if we once come up we shall staythere. If you cannot come now, join us at the Lion d'Or at Sevres, whereyou will find us eating the dinner that we have sent on to order."
"The matter is urgent," D'Estournel said. "I am not joking with you, butpray you to come up at once."
Seeing that the matter was serious the three knights dismounted and wentup. They were at first absolutely incredulous when they heard from CountCharles what Guy had told them.
"That the knaves owe us no good-will I know well enough," Count Waltersaid, "for they have over and over again laid their complaint against usbefore the duke; but it is hard to believe that they would dare to demandwhat Burgundy would never grant."
Guy repeated the arguments that he had used with D'Estournel.
"There is no limit," he said, "to the arrogance of these knaves, and intruth it cannot be denied that they are masters here, and that even theduke cannot altogether withstand them; and you know, moreover, howessential is their goodwill to him. But even should he ever so obstinatelyrefuse their demands they might well take their way without his leave.What can he, with a handful of knights and a few hundred armed men, doagainst the mob of Paris? I earnestly pray you, gentlemen, to treat thematter as serious. Warn your eight friends without delay; bid yourretainers mount and ride to the gate. If it is open, all the better, it isbut a party of pleasure bound for Sevres, and if you learn to-morrowmorning that all is quiet here you can return. If it seems better to you,and this may save you much argument, merely ask your friends to mount andride with you to dine there; if any refuse, say you have a motive thatthey will learn when they get there, and almost compel t
hem to go withyou. I pledge you my honour that you will have no reason to regret havingtaken my advice."
"Well, what do you say, gentlemen?" Count Walter asked. "As Master Aylmersays, it will at worst be but a carouse, which I hope he will share withus."
"That I would right gladly do," Guy replied, "but I have the safety of mylady and her children to look after, for she too, as well as our four men-at-arms, have incurred the enmity of these butchers. I have sent the menout of the town, and a place of safety has been prepared for her and thechildren. I shall see them safely bestowed there at nightfall."
"Since you have thought such preparations necessary we will at any rateact on the information that you have given us, and will promise not toblame you unduly should it turn out that the affair you speak of does notcome off. Let us lose no time, gentlemen; let us each go to two of ourfriends and take no denial from them to our invitation to dine with us atSevres. Let us say nothing to them about bringing their men-at-arms andgrooms with them. We can ourselves muster some thirty fighting men, andthat should be enough with our own swords to bring these knaves to reasonif they keep their gates shut against us."
"As my arrangements are all made," Guy said, "and I have an hour to spare,I shall walk down towards the gate and see what comes of it."
The four gentlemen at once mounted and rode off,--after giving directionsto their grooms to order their men-at-arms to mount at once and to waitfor them at a spot a quarter of a mile from the gate,--and Guy strolledoff in the same direction. In half an hour he had the satisfaction ofseeing the men-at-arms ride up and halt as ordered. Walking a littlefurther on he saw that something unusual had happened. Groups of peoplewere standing about talking, and each man who came up from the gate wasquestioned. Joining one of the groups he soon learned that the excitementwas caused by the unusual closing of the gates, no one being allowedeither to enter or pass out. None could account for this proceeding. Itwas certain that it had not been done by the orders either of the Dukes ofAquitaine or Burgundy,--for there were no royal guards or men-at-arms withthe duke's cognizance,--but by men of the city, who, as all agreed, mustbe acting under the orders of the butchers.
"It is a bold deed," one said, "for which they will have to account. It isa usurpation of authority, and one the Duke of Aquitaine, who is now kingin all but name, will surely resent hotly."
"How strong is the party?" one of the bystanders asked, putting thequestion that Guy had on his lips.
"Some forty or fifty, all stout fellows with steel caps and breast-pieces,and well armed."
Guy turned and walked back to the spot where the Burgundian men-at-armswere drawn up. In ten minutes D'Estournel and his party rode up. Guy wasglad to see that he had with him the whole of his companions. He at oncewent up to them.
"The gates are closed, Count, and held by forty or fifty of the townsmenin arms, so you see that my information was correct. Had you not bettertell your friends of the truth now, for otherwise they might hesitate totake so grave a step as to attack them?"
D'Estournel nodded, and, riding to the others, said in a low voice:"Gentlemen, we had not intended to let you into this little mystery untilwe had left Paris, but I find it necessary to do so now. I have learnedsurely that the rabble of Paris have resolved upon massacring us to-nightfor the share we took in that little affair at the provost of thesilversmiths. To that end they have shut the gates, and hold it with somefifty armed men. It is as well that some of us have brought our men-at-arms here. I can hardly fancy that these rascals will try to prevent usfrom passing out, seeing that they have no warrant but their own forclosing the gates against us, but if they do there is nothing for it butto open them ourselves. Let us ride forward at once, gentlemen, for thesefellows may receive a reinforcement at any time."
So saying, he put spurs to his horse, calling upon the men-at-arms tofollow. His three companions, who were already in the secret, joined himat once; and the others, after a pause of astonishment and almostincredulity, followed, in no way loath at the chance of another fight withthe followers of the butchers. As they approached the gate the townsmenhastily drew up in front of it.
"What means this?" Count Walter de Vesoul said haughtily, as he reined uphis horse a few paces from the line. "By what authority do you dare closethe gates and thus stand armed before them?"
"By the authority of the city of Paris," the leader of the party saidinsolently.
"I recognize no such authority while the king and the Duke of Aquitaine,who holds his full powers, are resident here. Clear the way, my man, andopen the gates, or I will ride over you."
The butcher answered him with a derisive laugh. "It will cost you yourlives if you attempt it," he said.
"Gentlemen, draw your swords and give these rough fellows the lesson theyneed;" and, setting the example, he rode at the butcher and cut him down.The idea that the Burgundian knights would venture to force a passage inthe teeth of the prohibition of the master of the butchers had apparentlynot so much as entered the minds of the guard, and as soon as the knightsand their followers fell upon them, the greater portion of them flung downtheir arms and fled, a few only fighting stoutly until overpowered. Assoon as the skirmish was over the keys were brought out from the guard-room, and the gate unlocked and the massive bars taken down. In themeantime some of the men-at-arms had run up on to the wall, hoisted theportcullis, and lowered the drawbridge across the fosse. As soon as theyreturned and mounted the party rode through. As they did so, four men ranout from a lane near the wall and followed them; and Guy at oncerecognized in them the archer and his three companions. Greatly pleased,he returned to the city and informed Dame Margaret of what had takenplace.
"No doubt," he said, "when they found the gates shut they remembered whatI had said, that I was going to warn Count Charles and his friends, andwent back to observe what these were doing; and the sight of theirretainers going towards the gate must have told them which way theyintended to leave; and they, no doubt, went down and hid up near the gateto watch the conflict, and to take advantage of it, if a chance offered,to get off themselves."
"That is indeed a satisfaction, Guy; and I am glad, too, that your friendsgot away. There can be no doubt now that the count's information wasaccurate; the gates having been closed, as he said they would be, vouchesfor this. Katarina has been here; she was dressed this time as anapprentice in the service of some trader, and brought a large boxcontaining our disguises and yours. For you there is a bottle of dye foryour hair, a mixture for darkening your skin, and clothes--the latter suchas would be worn by a workman. Charlie is to wear a girl's dress, at whichhe is mightily offended; nor is Agnes better pleased, for a boy's suit hasbeen sent for her. My disguise is simply a long cloak with a hood, such asis worn by the wives of small traders. Katarina explained that it had beenthought better to change the sex of Agnes and Charlie, so that, when a hueand cry is raised for a missing woman, with a girl of fourteen, and a boyof ten, no one should associate the woman with two lads and a little girl,whom they passed in the street, as being the party for which search isbeing made. And now, Guy, do you not think that we should warn our goodhost of the danger that threatens, for, doubtless, he also has been markedout as a victim?"
"I will see him at once, and will tell him as much as it is necessary forhim to know. Assuredly it is now too late for him to escape beyond thewalls, unless he were to take his wife with him, and bring his serving-mento let them down from the walls; but this, I should think, he will not do,he would rather take refuge in the house of some of his friends."
The silversmith listened gravely when Guy told him that he had receivedsure information that the butchers would that evening make a slaughter ofsome of their opponents, that they would be in such force that resistancewould be hopeless, and that the few royal troops and the followers ofBurgundy would be insufficient to make head against them.
"Your news does not surprise me, and though I know not how you came by it,I fear that it is true. The news that the city gates have been all shut
and are being guarded by strong parties of the butchers' rabble, shows buttoo surely that there is danger in the air. In the first place, there isyour lady to be thought of; I must endeavour to obtain for her alsoshelter among my friends."
"We have already arranged for a hiding-place for her and the children,Maitre Leroux. I may not name where it is to anyone, but suffice that itis a quiet house where there is little fear of any suspicions resting uponthem, and where they will be able to remain until order is restored."
"I fear that that will be a long time," the silversmith said. "Thebutchers boast that they can place 20,000 men under arms, and indeed theterror excited by them is so great, that very many who hate their doingsas much as I do myself have been forced to make a semblance of joiningthem. Next about your men-at-arms, they are brave fellows and I owe themmuch."
"They are all safe outside the walls. Some Burgundian knights, indignantthat this rabble should dare stop them, cut their way out through the PortSt. Denis, and our men took advantage of the gates being open to followthem."
"And as to yourself, Master Aylmer?"
"I have dyes to blacken my hair and a tincture for darkening my face. Ihave also a disguise by which I may pass as an apprentice to a trader. Ishall at all hazards remain in Paris, but what I shall yet do I know not.And now about yourself and Madame Leroux--you will not, I hope, think ofdefending the house as you did before."
"Certainly not; it would not avail to save our lives, and would assuredlycost those of my servitors and most likely of the women. I have friends,who will, I hope, gladly take us in. Maitre Lepelletiere, the MasterCarpenter, who has been doing my doors, is an old friend of mine, andafter the last attack, urged me to withdraw for a time from the attentionof the mob, and offered me refuge in his place. He lives in the Rue desFosses; which is close to the old inner wall that is now for the most partin ruins. You pass along by the hospital, and when beyond the old wallturn to the right; 'tis the third doorway. There are no houses facing it,but it looks straight upon the wall, the ground between being some thirtyor forty yards wide; and doubtless when the house was built, it was beforethe present wall was erected, and stood on the outer side of the fosseround the old one. There are many others of the same trade who live inthat quarter, and as they are for the most part opposed to the butchers, Idoubt not that my friend will have no difficulty in obtaining a lodgingfor you among them should no other have been settled upon."
"Thank you indeed," Guy replied; "the arrangement has been made by others,and I know not for certain what has yet been decided upon, but should nota suitable place have been chosen I will gladly accept your offer."
"And now I must set to work," the silversmith said.
"In what way?" Guy asked in surprise.
"In hiding my wares. In a city like Paris, with its sieges and itstumults, a prudent man having goods of great value will assuredly preparea place of safety for them. I will set my men to work at once; thebusiness must be finished before it becomes dark, for as soon as it doesso we must leave the house and close it."
"I have nothing to do at present, and shall be glad to help your men," Guysaid.
He followed the silversmith downstairs. Maitre Leroux called his head man.
"We must move, Jacques, and that quickly; you have heard that the gatesare shut."
"Yes, master, people are talking of nothing else."
"I have news that there will be trouble to-night, so we must set to workat once to place the chests in safety. First let them clear out the wood-cellar."
This was done in a few minutes by the seven men, then Jacques told theothers to go back into the shop and pack up all the silver goods in thechests. As soon as they were gone Jacques looked inquiringly at hismaster, who nodded. Then he touched a brick in the wall some seven feetabove the floor; it sprung back.
"Will you lift me up?" the man said to Guy. The lad did as he was asked,and the man thrust his arm into the orifice. A moment later he asked Guyto set him down.
"Go to the doorway," he said, and hurried across to where Maitre Lerouxwas standing; then kneeling down he pushed his hand under the sill of thedoorway and then stood up.
"Do you hear that?" the silversmith said.
"I hear a dull rumbling somewhere," Guy replied. As he spoke he saw halfthe floor, which was apparently of solid flags, beginning to rise.
"This was done in my father's time," Maitre Leroux said, "and it was madefor him by Maitre Lepelletiere's father with the aid of two or three goodsmiths, who put the machinery together at his house and were in ignorancewhere it was intended to be placed."
The trap-door was now raised, and Guy to his astonishment saw a stream ofrunning water three feet below the opening.
"Whence comes this?" he asked in astonishment.
"No wonder you are surprised," the silversmith said; "it was a piece ofrare good-luck that my father hit upon it. A map that he had showed himthat in the old days, before there were any houses on this side of theriver, a narrow branch left the stream some hundred yards above theposition of his house, made a circuit and came into it again as muchbelow. He inquired among some old men, and learned that they had heardtheir grandfathers say that they knew that at some time or other thisstream had been built over when Paris began to grow in this direction.After he had contrived this apparatus that you see, which is worked by aheavy counterpoise in the wall, he began to dig, and a foot below thesurface came upon an arch of brickwork, so my father concluded that hishouse was exactly over the old stream.
"On breaking through the crown he discovered, as you see, that the waterstill flowed through this tunnel, which is some three and a half yardswide and eight feet deep. My men, all of whom are trusty fellows, know ofthe existence of this hiding-place, but Jacques is the only one besidesmyself who knows the secret of the opening. Now, Jacques, fetch the chestsalong as fast as they are ready."
The chests were soon brought up and one by one lowered. Chains wereattached from the handle of each to that of the one that followed; theywere almost the weight of the water and sank until within an inch-or twoof the surface. Each was floated down as it was lowered, until twentygreat chests had been taken down. Then one more heavy and ponderous thanthe rest was attached to the train, and a sloping board being placed fromthe cellar floor to the bottom of the stream, the case was allowed toslide down this until it rested on the bottom several feet beyond thetrap-door.
"There you see," the silversmith said, "even if they discovered the trap-door and broke up the floor with sledgehammers, which would be no easymatter, and probed the stream with lances, they would find nothing. As yousaw, there is a chain to the end of the last box, which is, as it were, ananchor to the rest; this chain Jacques will now attach to a strong wire,and fasten that to a ring below the water's edge, and a foot beyond thetrap-door, so that when danger is past we shall haul up the chain andrecover the cases one by one in the order in which they have been sentdown."
As soon as Jacques had fastened the wire to the ring he touched anotherheavy spring under the sill, then pulled hard on the trap-door; thisgradually began to sink, and in a minute was in its place again. At thesame time the brick that had been pushed in above came out into its placeagain, dust was then swept into the crack at the edge of the trapdoor, andno one who had not seen the latter raised would have dreamt of itsexistence.