Part 31 (1/2)

The Forcing of the Trap

The position wherein I stood does not appear very favourable to thought; yet for the next ht profoundly I had, I told myself, scored one point Be Rupert Hentzau's errand what it ed on what it would, I had scored one point He was on the other side of the , and it would be by no fault of ain I had three left to deal with: two on guard and De Gautet in his bed Ah, if I had the keys! I would have risked everything and attacked Detchard and Bersonin before their friends could join the of e--someone with the keys And I waited, as it seemed, for half an hour, really for about five an

All was still on the other side The duke's rooht burnt steadily in Madame de Mauban'sThen I heard the faintest, faintest sound: it cae on the other side of the moat It but just reached my ear, yet I could not beturned very carefully and slowly Who was turning it? And of what room was it the key? There leapt beforeRupert, with the key in one hand, his sword in the other, and an evil smile on his face But I did not knohat door it was, nor on which of his favourite pursuits young Rupert was spending the hours of that night

I was soon to be enlightened, for the next moment--before my friends could be near the chateau door--before Johann the keeper would have thought to nerve himself for his task--there was a sudden crash froh so down a lamp; and the ent dark and black At the saht: ”Help, help! Michael, help!” and was followed by a shriek of utter terror

I was tingling in every nerve I stood on the topht hand and holding ateas broader than the bridge; there was a dark corner on the opposite side where a man could stand I darted across and stood there Thus placed, I commanded the path, and no man could pass between the chateau and the old Castle till he had tried conclusions withopen and clanged against the wall, and I heard the handle of a door savagely twisted

”Open the door! In God's name, what's the matter?” cried a voice--the voice of Black Michael himself

He was answered by the very words I had written in my letter

”Help, Michael--Hentzau!”

A fierce oath rang out froainst the door At the same moment I heard aabove my head open, and a voice cried: ”What's the rasped my sword If De Gautet came my way, the Six would be less by one more

Then I heard the clash of crossed swords and a tra so quickly as it happened, for all seery cry fromopen; young Rupert stood there sword in hand

He turned his back, and I saw his body go forward to the lunge

”Ah, Johann, there's one for you! Come on, Michael!”

Johann was there, then--come to the rescue of the duke! Hoould he open the door for me? For I feared that Rupert had slain him

”Help!” cried the duke's voice, faint and husky

I heard a step on the stairs above me; and I heard a stir down to 's cell But, before anything happened onRupert in the eed with incomparable dash and dexterity For an instant they fell back, leaving a ring round hi as he leapt, and waving his sword in his hand He was drunk with blood, and he laughed again wildly as he flung hi into the moat

What became of him then? I did not see: for as he leapt, De Gautet's lean face looked out through the door by me, and, without a second's hesitation, I struck at hiiven roan I dropped on : ”The keys, h he had been yet alive and could listen; and when I could not find theive me!--I believe I struck a dead man's face

At last I had theest, I felt the lock of the door that led to the cell I fitted in the key It was right The lock turned I drew the door close behindthe key in ht of steep stone stairs An oil lamp burnt dimly in the bracket I took it down and held it in my hand; and I stood and listened

”What in the devil can it be?” I heard a voice say

It came from behind a door that faced me at the bottom of the stairs

And another answered:

”Shall we kill him?”