"’Tis not that alone, Peter, that made me dash in hither instead of meeting De Maupas and settling our account once and for all. ’Tis more because I saw a glimmer of hope, remote but clear. As for the other door, ’twill be fast locked, and what jailer would carry his keys to the battle? Nay, we have a few minutes’ respite--let us use it well. Upward, Peter, upward! ’Tis the lady Beatrice we must next seek and succour if we can." So saying, Edgar took the lead and sprang quickly up the stairs. He knew where to look, for while in the very midst of the mêlée raging about the outer gates he had caught a glimpse of a hand, small and white, stretched out in mute appeal from a little window high up in the walls of the mighty donjon. *CHAPTER XX* *The Last Hope* "Hark!" cried Beatrice, springing from the couch on which she had passed her second night at Ruthènes. "Hark, Jeannette, the call to arms is once more sounding! Dawn is breaking, and some deadly conflict is, I feel sure, about to begin outside." From all sides indeed the blare of trumpets and the shouts of the men-at-arms, as they roused themselves from their slumbers and hastened excitedly to obey the call, resounded through the air. To one accustomed to the routine of castles it was clear that something of tremendous moment was happening, and hurrying to the little window of their chamber, Beatrice strove to catch a glimpse of what was afoot. The thickness of the walls, however, was so great that, strain as she would, she could see no more than a few feet of the courtyard about the gates, and here, save for a few men-at-arms passing to and fro, nothing unusual was going on. Upward upon the outer walls, however, men were clustering more thickly, and in a moment or two they began to busy themselves in hurling down stones upon some enemy beyond. It was evident that the castle was attacked. But De Maupas had said that Edgar Wintour was a captive: who, then, could be the enemy? Suddenly there was a tremendous thud against the walls a few yards above her head, and splinters of stone flew in all directions. "Oh, the castle is being battered down!" cried Jeannette in alarm. "Yes; that must have been a great stone cast by a mangonel or catapult, Jeannette. ’Twill go hard with us if one strikes here. ’Tis fortunate our window is not above the level of the outer walls." "Hist, mistress--someone is at the door!" It was true someone was at the door--someone, too, who appeared on secrecy bent, for the approach had been made without a sound and the key was being turned with the greatest caution. At last the door swung open and De Maupas entered. He appeared to be labouring under great excitement, for his bearing was nervous and his looks were disordered.