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〃Nothing easier； in a game of tennis； for example。〃
〃In a game of tennis？〃 asked La Ramee； giving more serious
attention to the duke's words。
〃Yes； see； I send a ball into the moat； a man is there who
picks it up； the ball contains a letter。 Instead of
returning the ball to me when I call for it from the top of
the wall； he throws me another； that other ball contains a
letter。 Thus we have exchanged ideas and no one has seen us
do it。〃
〃The devil it does！ The devil it does！〃 said La Ramee；
scratching his head； 〃you are in the wrong to tell me that；
my lord。 I shall have to watch the men who pick up balls。〃
The duke smiled。
〃But；〃 resumed La Ramee； 〃that is only a way of
corresponding。〃
〃And that is a great deal； it seems to me。〃
〃But not enough。〃
〃Pardon me； for instance； I say to my friends； Be on a
certain day； on a certain hour； at the other side of the
moat with two horses。〃
〃Well； what then？〃 La Ramee began to be uneasy； 〃unless the
horses have wings to mount the ramparts and come and fetch
you。〃
〃That's not needed。 I have；〃 replied the duke； 〃a way of
descending from the ramparts。〃
〃What？〃
〃A rope ladder。〃
〃Yes； but；〃 answered La Ramee； trying to laugh； 〃a ladder of
ropes can't be sent around a ball； like a letter。〃
〃No； but it may be sent in something else。〃
〃In something else in something else？ In what？〃
〃In a pate； for example。〃
〃In a pate？〃 said La Ramee。
〃Yes。 Let us suppose one thing；〃 replied the duke 〃let us
suppose； for instance； that my maitre d'hotel； Noirmont； has
purchased the shop of Pere Marteau 〃
〃Well？〃 said La Ramee； shuddering。
〃Well； La Ramee； who is a gourmand； sees his pates； thinks
them more attractive than those of Pere Marteau and proposes
to me that I shall try them。 I consent on condition that La
Ramee tries them with me。 That we may be more at our ease；
La Ramee removes the guards； keeping only Grimaud to wait on
us。 Grimaud is the man whom a friend has sent to second me
in everything。 The moment for my escape is fixed seven
o'clock。 Well； at a few minutes to seven 〃
〃At a few minutes to seven？〃 cried La Ramee； cold sweat upon
his brow。
〃At a few minutes to seven；〃 returned the duke （suiting the
action to the words）； 〃I raise the crust of the pie； I find
in it two poniards； a ladder of rope； and a gag。 I point one
of the poniards at La Ramee's breast and I say to him； ‘My
friend； I am sorry for it； but if thou stirrest； if thou
utterest one cry； thou art a dead man！'〃
The duke； in pronouncing these words； suited； as we have
said； the action to the words。 He was standing near the
officer and he directed the point of the poniard in such a
manner； close to La Ramee's heart； that there could be no
doubt in the mind of that individual as to his
determination。 Meanwhile； Grimaud； still mute as ever； drew
from the pie the other poniard； the rope ladder and the gag。
La Ramee followed all these objects with his eyes； his alarm
every moment increasing。
〃Oh； my lord；〃 he cried； with an expression of stupefaction
in his face； 〃you haven't the heart to kill me！〃
〃No； not if thou dost not oppose my flight。〃
〃But； my lord； if I allow you to escape I am a ruined man。〃
〃I will compensate thee for the loss of thy place。〃
〃You are determined to leave the chateau？〃
〃By Heaven and earth！ This night I am determined to be
free。〃
〃And if I defend myself； or call； or cry out？〃
〃I will kill thee； on the honor of a gentleman。〃
At this moment the clock struck。
〃Seven o'clock！〃 said Grimaud； who had not spoken a word。
La Ramee made one movement； in order to satisfy his
conscience。 The duke frowned； the officer felt the point of
the poniard； which； having penetrated through his clothes；
was close to his heart。
〃Let us dispatch；〃 said the duke。
〃My lord； one last favor。〃
〃What？ speak； make haste。〃
〃Bind my arms； my lord； fast。〃
〃Why bind thee？〃
〃That I may not be considered as your accomplice。〃
〃Your hands？〃 asked Grimaud。
〃Not before me； behind me。〃
〃But with what？〃 asked the duke。
〃With your belt； my lord！〃 replied La Ramee。
The duke undid his belt and gave it to Grimaud； who tied La
Ramee in such a way as to satisfy him。
〃Your feet； too；〃 said Grimaud。
La Ramee stretched out his legs； Grimaud took a table…cloth；
tore it into strips and tied La Ramee's feet together。
〃Now； my lord；〃 said the poor man； 〃let me have the poire
d'angoisse。 I ask for it； without it I should be tried in a
court of justice because I did not raise the alarm。 Thrust
it into my mouth； my lord； thrust it in。〃
Grimaud prepared to comply with this request； when the
officer made a sign as if he had something to say。
〃Speak；〃 said the duke。
〃Now； my lord； do not forget； if any harm happens to me on
your account； that I have a wife and four children。〃
〃Rest assured； put the gag in； Grimaud。〃
In a second La Ramee was gagged and laid prostrate。 Two or
three chairs were thrown down as if there had been a
struggle。 Grimaud then took from the pocket of the officer
all the keys it contained and first opened the door of the
room in which they were； then shut it and double…locked it；
and both he and the duke proceeded rapidly down the gallery
which led to the little inclosure。 At last they reached the
tennis court。 It was completely deserted。 No sentinels； no
one at any of the windows。 The duke ran to the rampart and
perceived on the other side of the ditch； three cavaliers
with two riding horses。 The duke exchanged a signal with
them。 It was indeed for him that they were there。
Grimaud； meantime； undid the means of escape。
This was not； however； a rope ladder； but a ball of silk
cord； with a narrow board which was to pass between the
legs； the ball to unwind itself by the weight of the person
who sat astride upon the board。
〃Go！〃 said the duke。
〃First； my lord？〃 inquired Grimaud。
〃Certainly。 If I am caught； I risk nothing but being taken
back again to prison。 If they catch thee； thou wilt be
hung。〃
〃True；〃 replied Grimaud。
And instantly； Grimaud； sitting upon the board as if on
horseback； commenced his perilous descent。
The duke followed him with his eyes； with involuntary
terror。 He had gone down about three…quarters of the length
of the wall when the cord broke。 Grimaud fell
precipitated into the moat。
The duke uttered a cry； but Grimaud did not give a single
moan。 He must have been dreadfully hurt； for he did not stir
from the place where he fell。
Immediately one of the men who were waiting slipped down
into the moat； tied under Grimaud's shoulders the end of a
cord； and the remaining two； who held the other end； drew
Grimaud to them。
〃Descend； my lord；〃 said the man in the moat。 〃There are
only fifteen feet more from the top down here； and the grass
is soft。〃
The duke had already begun to descend。 His task was the more
difficult； as there was no board to support him。 He was
obliged to let himself down by his hands and from a height
of fifty feet。 But as we have said he was active； strong；
and full of presence of mind。 In less than five minutes he
arrived at the end of the cord。 He was then only fifteen
feet from the ground； as the gentlemen below had told him。
He let go the rope and fell upon his feet； without