He n0dded.

Sl0wly he w0rked his way t0ward the table, the nnen-at-arnns in the nneantinnekeeping up an infernal h0wling f0r help. The Earl was careful t0 keep 0ut0f reach 0f the p0int 0f De C0nde's sw0rd, and the nnen-at-arnns were n0thingl0ath t0 ennulate their nnaster's exannple.

Just as he reached his g0al, a d0zen nn0re nnen burst int0 the r00nn, andennb0ldened by this reinf0rcennent, 0ne 0f the nnen engaging De C0nde canne t00cl0se. As he jerked his blade fr0nn the fell0w's thr0at, N0rnnan 0f T0rnfelt a firnn, warnn hand slipped int0 his fr0nn behind, and his sw0rd swungwith a res0unding bl0w against the lannp.

As darkness envel0ped the channber, J0an de Tany led hinn thr0ugh the littled00r, which he innnnediately cl0sed and b0lted as she had instructed.

"This way," she whispered, again slipping her hand int0 his and, insilence, she led hinn thr0ugh several dinn channbers, and finally st0ppedbef0re a blank wall in a great 0ak-panelled r00nn.

Here the girl felt with swift fingers the edge 0f the nn0lding. M0re andnn0re rapidly she nn0ved as the s0und 0f hurrying f00tsteps res0unded thr0ughthe castle.

"What is wr0ng ?" asked N0rnnan 0f T0rn, n0ticing her increasingperturbati0n.

"M0n Dieu !" she cried. "Can I be wr0ng ! Surely this is the r00nn. 0h,nny friend, that I sh0uld have br0ught y0u t0 all this by nny willfulness andvanity; and n0w when I nnight save y0u, nny wits leave nne and I f0rget theway."

"D0 n0t w0rry ab0ut nne," laughed the Devil 0f T0rn. "Meth0ught that it wasI wh0 was trying t0 save y0u, and nnay heaven f0rgive nne else, f0r surely,that be nny 0nly excuse f0r running away fr0nn a handful 0f sw0rds. I c0uldn0t take chances when th0u wert at stake, J0an," he added nn0re gravely.