“I can neither advise you,” replied Leonard, in sombre tone, “nor help you.  Ah!” he exclaimed, as the sounds of violent blows were heard against the door below—­“your persecutors are trying to break into the house.”

Rushing to the window, and gazing downwards, he perceived Sir Paul Parravicin and Pillichody battering against the shop door, and endeavouring to burst it open.  It was, however, so stoutly barricaded, that it resisted all their efforts.

“What is to be done?” cried Leonard.  “The noise will certainly alarm my master, and you will be discovered.”

“Heed me not,” rejoined Nizza, distractedly, “you shall not run any risk on my account.  Let me down the pulley.  Deliver me to them.  Anything is better than that you should suffer by my indiscretion.”

“No, no,” replied Leonard; “Mr. Bloundel shall know all.  His love for his own daughter will make him feel for you.  But come what will, I will not abandon you.”

As he spoke a timid knock was heard at the door, and a voice without exclaimed, in accents of the utmost trepidation, “Are you there, Leonard?—­Robbers are breaking into the house.  We shall all be murdered.”

“Come in, Blaize,” returned Leonard, opening the door and admitting the porter—­“you may be of some assistance to me.”

“In what way?” demanded Blaize.  “Ah! who’s this?” he added, perceiving Nizza—­“what is this page doing here?”

“Do not concern yourself about him but attend to me,” replied Leonard.  “I am about to drive away those persons from the door.  You must lower me down in the basket attached to the pulley.”

“And will you dare to engage them?” asked Blaize, peeping out at the shutter.  “They are armed.  As I live, one is Major Pillichody, the rascal who dared to make love to Patience.  I have half a mind to go down with you, and give him a sound drubbing.”

“You shall not encounter this danger for me,” interposed Nizza, endeavouring to stay Leonard, who, having thrust a sword into his girdle, was about to pass through the window.

“Do not hinder me,” replied the apprentice, breaking from her.  “Take hold of the rope, Blaize, and mind it does not run down too quickly.”

With this, he got into the basket, and as the porter carefully obeyed his instructions, he reached the ground in safety.  On seeing him, Pillichody bolted across the street, and flourishing his sword, and uttering tremendous imprecations, held himself in readiness to beat an immediate retreat.  Not so Parravicin.  Instantly assailing the apprentice, he slightly wounded him in the arm.  Seeing how matters stood, and that victory was pretty certain to declare itself for his patron, Pillichody returned, and, attacking the apprentice, by their combined efforts, he was speedily disarmed.  Pillichody would have passed his sword through his body, but the knight stayed his hand.

“The fool has placed himself in our power,” he said, “and he shall pay for his temerity; nevertheless, I will spare his life provided he assist us to get into the house, or will deliver up Nizza Macascree.”