Thus placed, I commanded the path, and no man could pass between the chateau and the old Castle till he had tried conclusions with me.
There was another shriek.

Then a door was flung open and clanged against the wall, and I heard the handle of a door savagely twisted.
"Open the door! In God's name, what's the matter ?" cried a voice--the voice of Black Michael himself.
He was answered by the very words I had written in my letter.
"Help, Michael--Hentzau!" A fierce oath rang out from the duke, and with a loud thud he threw himself against the door.

At the same moment I heard a window above my head open, and a voice cried: "What's the matter ?" and I heard a man's hasty footsteps.

I grasped my sword.

If De Gautet came my way, the Six would be less by one more.
Then I heard the clash of crossed swords and a tramp of feet and--I cannot tell the thing so quickly as it happened, for all seemed to come at once.