"Well, bring her," I said shortly. She went, and quickly returned with a young lady, whose face and modest bearing were known to me, though I could not, at the moment, recall her name. This was the less remarkable as I am not prone to look much in maids' faces, leaving that to younger men; and Mademoiselle de Figeac's, though beautiful, was disfigured on this occasion by the marked distress under which she was labouring. Accustomed as I was to the visits of persons of all classes and characters who came to me daily with petitions, I should have been disposed to cut her short, but for my wife's intimation that her errand had to do with the matter which annoyed me. This, as well as a trifle of curiosity--from which none are quite free--inclined me to be patient; and I asked her what she would have with me. "Justice, M. le Duc," she answered simply. "I have heard that you are seeking M. de Vilain, and that one of your people is lying under sentence for complicity in his escape." "That is true, mademoiselle," I said. "If you can tell me--" "I can tell you how he escaped, and by whose aid," she answered. It is my custom to betray no astonishment, even when I am astonished. "Do so," I said. "He escaped through the window," she answered firmly, "by my brother's aid." "Your brother's?" I exclaimed, amazed at her audacity. "I do not remember him." "He is only thirteen years old." I could hide my astonishment no longer. "You must be mad, girl!" I said, "mad! You do not know what you are saying! The window of the room in which Vilain was confined is fifty feet from the ground, and you say that your brother, a boy of thirteen, contrived his escape?" "Yes, M. de Sully," she answered. "And the man who is about to suffer is innocent." "How was it done, then?" I asked, not knowing what to think of her persistence. "My brother was flying a kite that day," she answered. "He had been doing so for a week or more, and everyone was accustomed to seeing him here. After sunset, the wind being favourable, he came under M. de Vilain's window, and, when it was nearly dark, and the servants and household were at supper, he guided the kite against the balcony outside the window." "But a man cannot descend by a kite-string!" "My brother had a knotted rope, which M. de Vilain drew up," she answered simply; "and afterwards, when he had descended, disengaged." I looked at her in profound amazement. "Your brother acted on instructions?" I said at last. "On mine," she answered. "You avow that?" "I am here to do so," she replied, her face white and red by turns, but her eyes continuing to meet mine. "This is a very serious matter," I said. "Are you aware, mademoiselle, why M. Vilain was arrested, and of what he is accused?" "Perfectly," she answered; "and that he is innocent. More!" she continued, clasping her hands, and looking at me bravely, "I am willing both to tell you where he is, and to bring him, if you please, into your presence."