At about two, Westerman started on his expedition.  His men carried their sabres, still sheathed, in their hands, to prevent the noise which they would have made rattling against their saddles; but still their journey through the country was anything but quiet.  They only rode two abreast, as the roads were too narrow to admit of more.  Westerman himself and one of the guides headed the column, and the young cornet and veteran sergeant closed the rear.  They went at a fast trot, and the noise of their horses’ hoofs sounded loudly on the hard parched ground.  In spite of their precautions, their sabres rattled, and the curbs on their bridles jingled; and the absence of all other noises made Westerman fear that their approach must be audible, even through the soundness of a peasant’s sleep.

On they rode, and as they drew near to the chateau, Westerman put spurs to his horse, and changed his trot into a gallop; his troop of course followed his example, and as they.. came to the end of their journey they abandoned all precautions; each man dropped his scabbard to his side, and drew the blade; each man put his hand to his holster, and transferred his pistol to his belt, for he did not know how soon he might have to leave his saddle; each man drew the brazen clasps of his helmet tight beneath his chin, and prepared himself for action.

“These are the Clisson woods,” said the guide, almost out of breath with the quickness of his motion.

“How infernally dark they make it,” said Westerman, speaking to himself.  “We had light enough till we got here”

“And there are the gates,” said the guide.  “That first entrance which is open, goes to the back of the house; a little beyond, there is another, which leads to the front; there you will find a gate, but it is merely closed with a latch.”

“Craucher,” said Westerman, speaking to the second sergeant, who was riding immediately behind him, “stand at the corner, and bid the men follow me at a quick trot—­all of them, mind; tell Cornet Leroy that I have changed my mind,” and Westerman, followed by his troop, dashed up the narrow avenue which led through the wood to the back of the house.

The chateau of Clisson was surrounded by large woods, through which countless paths and little roads were made in every direction for the convenience of the woodmen, and the small tumbrils which were used for bringing out the timber and faggots.  These woods came close up to the farm-yard of the chateau, which was again divided from the house by large walled gardens, into which the back windows opened.  The road up which Westerman had ridden led under the garden-wall to the farm-yard, but another road from the front, running along the gable-end of the house, communicated with it.  The door used by the servants was at the side of the chateau, and consequently the readiest way from the public road to the servants’ door, was that by which Westerman had, at the last moment, determined to force an entrance into the chateau.