"That was in old times, when the Tourgue was besieged. The people inside could escape through an underground passage which opened into the woods." "I know there are subterranean passages of that kind in the châteaux of Jupellière and Hunaudaye, and in the tower of Champéon; but there is nothing like it in the Tourgue." "But indeed there is, monseigneur. I do not know the passages of which monseigneur speaks; I only know the one in the Tourgue because I belong in the neighborhood; and besides, I am the only one who does know of it. It was never spoken of. It was forbidden, because this passage had been used in the wars of M. de Rohan. My father knew the secret and showed it to me. I know both the secret entrance and the outlet. If I am in the forest I can go into the tower; and if I am in the tower I can go into the forest without being seen, so that when the enemies enter there is no one to be found. That is the passage of the Tourgue. Oh, I know it well." The old man remained silent for a moment. "You must be mistaken. If there had been any such secret I should have known it." "Monseigneur, I am sure of it. There is a stone that turns." "Oh, yes! You peasants believe in turning-stones, in singing-stones, and in stones that go by night down to a neighboring brook to drink. A pack of idle tales!" "But when I turned the stone myself--" "Yes, just as others have heard it sing. My friend, the Tourgue is a Bastille, safe and strong, and easily defended; but he would be a simpleton indeed who depended for escape on a subterranean passage." "But, monseigneur--" The old man shrugged his shoulders,-- "Let us waste no more time, but speak of business." This peremptory tone checked Halmalo's persistence. The old man resumed:-- "Let us go on. Listen. From Rougefeu you are to go into the wood of Montchevrier, where you will find Bénédicité, the leader of the Twelve. He is another good man. He recites his _Bénédicite_ while he has people shot. There is no room for sensibility in warfare. From Montchevrier you will go--" He broke off. "I had forgotten about the money." He took from his pocket a purse and a pocket-book, which he put into Halmalo's hands. "In this pocket-book you will find thirty thousand francs in paper money, which is worth about three livres and ten sous. The assignats are false, to be sure, but the real ones are no more valuable; and in this purse, mind, you will find one hundred louis d'ors. I give you all I have, because I have no need of anything here, and it is better that no money should be found on me. Now I will go on. From Montchevrier you are to go to Antrain, where you will meet M. de Frotté; from Antrain to Jupellière, where you Will see M. de Rochecotte; from Jupellière to Noirieux, where you will find the Abbé Baudoin. Will you remember all this?" "As I do my Pater Noster."