Then addressing my father, he said.  “The very fact of the public attention being drawn to this point makes other parts of the city comparatively deserted, and therefore favors your escape.  Lose no time, I advise you, in availing yourselves of it.”

We exchanged our last embraces in tears, and they went forth, he following them.  I felt inexpressibly lonely and sad.

Just as I was beginning to get uneasy at his absence, and to think, “What if he should never come back?” he returned.

“They are safely off now,” said he, “and little know what peril they have been in here.  Another twelve hours, and they would all have been taken.  Now, then, let us bestir ourselves, young man.  They call you Jacques; but I shall call you Jean, after my younger brother.”

Helped on by him, I hobbled along, though in pain.  How chill, but how fresh and pleasant, felt the open air!  It seemed the breath of life to me, and revived me like a potent medicine.  There was a distant, sullen murmur in the city, but around us all was still.  Above us were bright stars, but no moon.

At length we got among low dwellings, some of which had twinkling lights.  We entered a dark, narrow passage, smelling powerfully of fried fish and onions.  Some one from above said cautiously, “Who goes there?”

“La Croissette.”

“Who else?”

“My brother Jean.”

“Advance, brothers La Croissette.”

We ascended a mean staircase and entered a room where we found a man and woman standing beside a large basket.

“Now get you into this,” said La Croissette to me, “and we will lower you from the window.  Stay, I will go first; it will give you confidence.”

Twisting his long frame into the basket, he clasped his arms round his knees, and the others began to raise him by well-secured pulleys.  The woman grew quite red in the face with the exertion of getting him over the window-ledge, and I own I trembled for him.

“All is right, he is safely down,” said she, at length, and helped to pull up the basket.  “Now, young man; you’re not afraid?”

“Oh no; only don’t let me down too fast.”

“That must depend on how heavy you are.  We can’t keep dangling you between sky and earth all night.  Come; you are not nearly as heavy as your brother.  Adieu, mon cher; bon voyage!”

“Adieu, madame; mille remerciments.”

I thought of St. Paul in the basket, and the two Israelitish spies.  La Croissette eased my descent a good deal, by steadying the basket, and helped me out of it to our mutual satisfaction.  It was then swiftly drawn up, and taken in.

“Thank heaven, we are safe!” said I.  “That was very cleverly managed.”

“Do you suppose it the first time?” said La Croissette.  “Far from it, I can tell you.  Many things are done in Nismes that the authorities know nothing of, for all their vigilance.  Now we are fairly outside the city, and, with ordinary good luck, shall perform our night-journey in safety.”