“I must see the guard for myself, mademoiselle.” “Certainly, monsieur. Where are they?” “Pardon me. You are either keeping matters from me--which I assure you will be useless--or you are strangely ignorant of what has occurred here.” “I think it must be both, monsieur, don’t you?” and they laughed together at the reply. “I beg you tell me.” “Oh, am I the guard? Very well. What shall I tell you?” He made a gesture of impatience. “Where are the soldiers? My orders are to use all despatch.” “Oh, then I am not the guard,” she cried with a laugh, and then seriously: “I give you my word, monsieur, I have been in the house some hours and have seen neither the guard nor the messengers.” “Have you seen the prisoners, mademoiselle?” “Monsieur. That question is almost an insult!” “I mean no insult to so charming a lady, I assure you; but you leave me no option save to search the house.” “What, again?” she cried in a merry bantering tone. “I did not know the great Duke was organizing a game of hide and go seek. But, seriously, monsieur, do you think your party is strong enough? We have a number of very savage old men among the Malincourt retainers, and some younger girls than I.” “There will be none prettier, mademoiselle, and none with more biting tongues. I should wish to do it with the least inconvenience.” “Then I beg you have in all your men and search all the wings at once,” said Lucette quickly. “I shall see you again when it is over,” a true saying with another meaning than the young officer understood, and she went away, having successfully used up an invaluable half-hour. Pascal and Gerard had heard it all from their post above stairs and were ready with their plans. The officer lost no time now in bringing in all but a dozen of his party, and he despatched them through the house with orders to search every room closely from roof to cellars, thus falling straight into the trap laid for him and them. He himself remained below by the door until he heard the scuffling sound of a struggle somewhere on an upper floor. A voice called to him: “They are here, lieutenant,” and at that he dashed up the stairs, the rest of his men close at his heels. It was but a ruse to draw him away, and the moment he had gone, Gerard sent a man to the door who beckoned excitedly to the troops outside to enter, and as they dashed in, mistaking the man for one of their comrades, they were seized, disarmed and hurried away in custody--the blow being cleverly, quickly, and almost silently struck. Another false alarm was now raised in a different wing of the house, and those soldiers who rushed to follow the sound were caught in the same way. Other false alarms followed in various directions, until the searchers, utterly bewildered and confused, ran first one way and then another, only to be caught in the net so warily and cleverly spread.