Neither Lauriane nor Mercedes shared his suffering; to avoid worrying them, the marquis had concealed his plans from them. So far as they knew, he had simply taken his people out for a _battue_. They had felt that something more serious was in the air, from his preoccupied manner and the frequent conferences he had held with his friends and servants throughout the day; but they were too well aware of his paternal affection to fear that he would expose Mario to any danger, and they both imagined that he would pass the night at the château of Ars or of Coudray. Adamas was beset by innumerable perplexities, debating within himself whether he ought not to set everybody at work clearing the secret passage, in order to go out that way to meet Mario and send word to the marquis, at the same time enabling the women to escape. But he had measured the ground so many times that he knew that many hours' work would still be required, and during that time the château, being no longer guarded, might well be invaded. Then what would become of them, confined in that issueless underground passage, the entrance to which would not be likely to escape the notice of the plunderers? He was interrupted in his agitated reflections by Clindor, who approached him on tiptoe. "What are you doing here, you worthless page?" he demanded angrily. And, forgetting that he was resting himself, he added: "Is this a night to rest?" "No, I know it isn't," replied the page; "but I am looking for----" "For whom? Tell me quickly!" "The coachman! haven't you seen him?" "Aristandre? Have you seen him about here I ask, that you are looking for him? Answer me!" "I haven't seen him in the château; but, as sure as you are sitting there, I saw him on the stone bridge, while they were fighting there." "Death of my life! he isn't in the château, I will swear to that! But Mario! he was to bring Mario home! Did you see Mario?" "No; I thought of him and I looked all about; Mario wasn't there." "God be praised! If Mario had come with him, you wouldn't have seen one without the other. He wouldn't have gone a foot away from him. He wouldn't have taken part in the battle. Doubtless monsieur kept the child with him and sent the coachman back to tell us. But the poor coachman! You say that he was fighting?" "Like thirty devils!" "I am sure of it! and then what?" "Then, then--the portcullis fell and I ran to shut the gates." "Hell fire! perhaps it fell on--Here, take this torch, and come!" "No, no! I saw the men that were crushed. He wasn't one of them." "You didn't see clearly, you were frightened!" "I, frightened! Upon my word!" "No matter, come, I tell you!" And Adamas ran and opened the gates and looked in fear and trembling at the bodies flattened under the iron teeth. They were so crushed and mutilated, that the ghastly spectacle caused the torch to fall from the page's hands.