evening, he dismissed his servants. They occupied rooms in a wing
of the building, in a retired spot, well removed from the main
portion of the castle. Shortly thereafter, the baron heard the
sound of approaching footsteps. It was Ganimard and his two
assistants--great, powerful fellows with immense hands, and necks
like bulls. After asking a few questions relating to the location
of the various entrances and rooms, Ganimard carefully closed and
barricaded all the doors and windows through which one could gain
access to the threatened rooms. He inspected the walls, raised
the tapestries, and finally installed his assistants in the
central gallery which was located between the two salons.

"No nonsense! We are not here to sleep. At the slightest sound,
open the windows of the court and call me. Pay attention also to
the water-side. Ten metres of perpendicular rock is no obstacle
to those devils."

Ganimard locked his assistants in the gallery, carried away the
keys, and said to the baron:

"And now, to our post."

He had chosen for himself a small room located in the thick outer
wall, between the two principal doors, and which, in former years,
had been the watchman's quarters. A peep-hole opened upon the
bridge; another on the court. In one corner, there was an opening
to a tunnel.

"I believe you told me, Monsieur le Baron, that this tunnel is the
only subterranean entrance to the castle and that it has been