“De Mieville,” he said, as the officer rode up towards the tower, “do not shed more blood.  Thirty at least have fallen in their attack on this turret, besides those who have been killed by your fire.  Take the rest, disarm them all, let the men cut some stout switches and give every man twenty blows well laid on the back, and then let them go.  Before you do so, send a dozen of them to clear the staircase and to draw some buckets of water from the well and sluice the steps down.  Paolo, do you run down and find a vessel of some sort and a goblet or horn, and bring up some wine from one of those barrels.  The ladies sorely need something after what they have gone through, and I myself shall be all the better for it, for the loss of blood has given me a raging thirst.”

Paolo had no difficulty in carrying out the order.  The rioters had brought out several pails for holding the wine, a score of silver cups and other vessels lay where they had been dropped when the soldiers appeared, and the officer had placed two men on guard over them.  Paolo thoughtfully brought up a pail of water as well as of wine.  The ladies drank a little wine and water, while Hector took a long draught, and made the two retainers who had fought so stoutly, and his own men, do the same.  In half an hour the staircase was cleared and washed down, and the party then descended.  The baroness had told Hector that for the present at any rate she would go to Nancy, and would report to the new lord’s agents there what had happened, and doubtless he would send a man to take charge of the place.

“These cups,” she said, “were all the personal property of my husband, and I am therefore free to take them.  Many of them have been in his family for a very long time.  Their sale will enable me to live until I can form some plans for the future.”

The several silver vessels were collected and wrapped up ready for transport in some of the hangings that the rioters had torn down.  An outhouse adjoining the keep was cleared out and thickly spread with rushes for the accommodation of the baroness and her daughter.  The troops had already had a very long march, and it was out of the question that they could return to Nancy that night.  Fires were lighted in front of the house, and the soldiers prepared to bivouac there.  Three of the troopers were sent off with orders to the captains of the other three companies to concentrate the next morning at a village on the line that would be taken on their return march.  Some men were sent down to the little town of Blenfoix to purchase bread and meat, together with torches and other necessaries.  At nightfall Hector posted sentinels, as he considered it quite possible that the peasants would raise the country for some distance round and try to take vengeance for the loss they had suffered.  When Paolo took some supper round to the two ladies, he returned with a message that they hoped Colonel Campbell would join them in their meal.