So the acquaintance became closer and closer, and at last Will ventured to say: “If I were back in England, mademoiselle, I might perhaps get your Lucien out. You could give me his name and the prison in which he is confined, and it would be hard if I could not manage to aid him to escape.” “Ah, monsieur, that would be splendid!” the girl said, clasping her hands. “If you could but get away!” “Well, mademoiselle, I think I could manage to escape if I had but a little help. For example, from the top window of this house I think I could manage to jump upon the wall, and if you could but furnish me with a rope I could easily make my escape. Of course I should want a suit of peasant’s clothes, for, you see, I should be detected at once if I tried to get away in this uniform. I speak French fairly now, and think I could pass as a native.” “You speak it very well, monsieur, but oh, I dare not help you to escape!” “I am not asking you to, mademoiselle; I am only saying how it could be managed, and that if I could get back to England I might aid your lover.” The girl was silent. “It could never be,” she murmured. “I am not asking it, mademoiselle; and now I must be going on.” The next time he came she said: “I have been thinking over what you said, monsieur, and I feel that it would be cowardly indeed if I were to shrink from incurring some little danger for the sake of Lucien. I know that he would give his life for me. We were to have been married in a fortnight, when they came and carried him off to the war. Now tell me exactly what you want me to do.” “I want a disguise, the dress of a travelling pedlar. I could give you two English sovereigns, which would be ample to get that. I want also a rope forty feet long. Then you must let me go up through your house to the top story. I have been looking at it from behind, and see that from the upper window I could climb up to the roof, and I am sure that from there I could easily jump across the narrow lane to the wall.” “I will do it, monsieur, partly for Lucien and partly because you are kind and gentle and,” she added with a little blush and laugh, “good-looking.” “I thank you with all my heart, mademoiselle, and I swear to you that when I get to England I will spare no pains to find Lucien and aid him to escape.” “When will you be out again, monsieur?” “This day week.” “I will have everything ready by that time,” she said. “You will come as late as you can?” “Yes, I will come the last thing before we all have to return to the prison. It will be dark half an hour later.” “But there are sentries on the walls,” she said.