“How do you know these things, Weber?”

“I have been in the house three or four hours and there is talk among the soldiers.  I pray you, don’t hesitate longer!”

“How can you find a way?”

“Wait a minute.”

He slipped back to the door, opened it and looked into the hall.

“The path is clear,” he said, when he returned.  “There is no sentinel near your door, and I’ve found a way leading out of the chateau at the back.  Most of these old houses have crooked, disused passages.”

“But suppose we succeed in reaching the outside, Weber, what then?  The place is surrounded by an army.”

“A way is there, too.  One man in the darkness can pass through a multitude.  We can’t delay, because another chance may not come!”

John was overborne.  Weber was half pulling him toward the door.  Moreover, there was much sense in what the Alsatian said.  It was a commonplace that he could be of more service to Julie alive than dead, and the man’s insistence deciding him, he crept with the Alsatian into the hall.  They stood a few minutes in the dark, listening, but no sound came.  Evidently the house slept well.

“This way, Mr. Scott,” whispered Weber, and he led toward the rear of the house.  Turning the corner of the hall he opened a small door in the wall, which John would have passed even in the daylight without noticing.

“Put a hand on my coat and follow me,” said Weber.

John obeyed without hesitation, and they ascended a half dozen steps along a passage so narrow that his shoulders touched the walls.  It was very dark there, but at the top they entered a room into which some moonlight came, enough for John to see barrels, boxes and bags heaped on the floor.

“A storeroom,” said Weber.  “The French are thrifty.  The owner of this house had splendor below, and he has kept provision for it above, almost concealed by the narrowness of the door and stair.  But we’ll find a broader stair on the other side, and then we’ll descend through the kitchen and beyond.”

“This looks promising.  You’re a clever man, Weber, and my debt to you is too big for me.”

“Don’t think about it.  Be careful and don’t make any noise.  Here’s the other stair.  You’d better hold to my coat again.”

They stole softly down the stair, crossed an unused room, went down another narrow, unused passage, and then, when Weber opened a door, John felt the cool air of the night blowing upon his face.  When the attempt at escape began, he had not been so enthusiastic, because he was leaving Julie behind, but with every step his eagerness grew and the free wind brought with it a sort of intoxication.  He did not doubt now that he would make good his flight.  Weber, that fast friend of his, was a wonderful man.  He worked miracles.  Everything came out as he predicted it would, and he would work more miracles.

“Where are we now?” asked John.