"
Then turning to de Sigognac, he said, "You may trust his word, for he is
an honourable fellow in his way, and will not molest you again--I will
answer for him."
Malartic made a gesture of acquiescence, and the baron let him
go--whereupon the discomfited bully picked up his sword, and with a
crestfallen air walked off very disconsolately to a corner, where he sat
down and occupied himself in staunching the blood that was flowing
from his wound. The other three men were quickly conquered, and, at the
suggestion of the latest comer, were securely bound hand and foot
as they lay upon the floor, and then left to reflect upon their
misfortunes.
"They can't do any more mischief now," said Jacquemin Lampourde,
mockingly; for it was that famous fighting man in person, who, in his
enthusiastic admiration, or rather adoration, for de Sigognac, had
offered his services on this momentous occasion--services by no means
to be despised. As to the brave Herode, he was doing good service in
fighting the rest of the garrison below. They had hastened out and
crossed the moat in the little row-boat as quickly as possible after the
alarm was given, but arrived too late, as we have seen, to prevent
the assailants from ascending their strange scaling ladder.
Pages:
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531