“Are they already coming to fetch us?” said Cinq-Mars.

“Bah! bah!” answered Grandchamp, “do not make yourself uneasy; it is the Tour des Oubliettes.  I have prowled round the fort for two months, and I have seen men fall from there into the water at least once a week.  Let us think of our affair.  I see a light down there.”

An invincible curiosity, however, led the two prisoners to look at the turret, in spite of the horror of their own situation.  It advanced to the extremity of the rock, over a gulf of foaming green water of great depth.  A wheel of a mill long deserted was seen turning with great rapidity.  Three distinct sounds were now heard, like those of a drawbridge suddenly lowered and raised to its former position by a recoil or spring striking against the stone walls; and three times a black substance was seen to fall into the water with a splash.

“Mercy! can these be men?” exclaimed the Abbe, crossing himself.

“I thought I saw brown robes turning in the air,” said Grandchamp; “they are the Cardinal’s friends.”

A horrible cry was heard from the tower, accompanied by an impious oath.  The heavy trap groaned for the fourth time.  The green water received with a loud noise a burden which cracked the enormous wheel of the mill; one of its large spokes was torn away, and a man entangled in its beams appeared above the foam, which he colored with his blood.  He rose twice, and sank beneath the waters, shrieking violently; it was Laubardemont.

Cinq-Mars drew back in horror.

“There is a Providence,” said Grandchamp; “Urbain Grandier summoned him in three years.  But come, come! the time is precious!  Do not remain motionless.  Be it he, I am not surprised, for those wretches devour each other.  But let us endeavor to deprive them of their choicest morsel.  Vive Dieu!  I see the signal!  We are saved!  All is ready; run to this side, Monsieur l’Abbe!  See the white handkerchief at the window! our friends are prepared.”

The Abbe seized the hands of both his friends, and drew them to that side of the terrace toward which they had at first looked.  “Listen to me, both of you,” said he.  “You must know that none of the conspirators has profited by the retreat you secured for them.  They have all hastened to Lyons, disguised, and in great number; they have distributed sufficient gold in the city to secure them from being betrayed; they are resolved to make an attempt to deliver you.  The time chosen is that when they are conducting you to the scaffold; the signal is your hat, which you will place on your head when they are to commence.”