We drew our swords, and I tried to open the door, but found it locked.
"The oars! The heavy oars!" whispered De Grammont.
I ran down the stairs to the boat and was about to ask Bettina to hand me the oars, when she, anticipating me, whispered:-- "I heard some one call for the oars, so I threw them out.

There they are!" There they were, true enough, halfway up the water stairs, ready for my hand, because of Betty's quickness.
In less than ten seconds I was at the top of the stairs again, and within twenty seconds more we had battered down the door with our heavy ash oars.

In the king's closet we found Frances, surrounded by men at arms, and the king crouching in a corner, barricaded by small pieces of furniture.
George fired his pistol, and one of the six men fell, whereupon several pistol shots were fired, filling the small room with powder smoke, but injuring no one so far as we knew.

De Grammont found an opening in another man's armor, and four stood between us and Frances.

Then the real fight began--four against three.