He entered the door. A light shone through the low window. It was characteristic of the times that in every village and hamlet the windows--the only windows--were so turned inwards on a street or yard that they revealed no light at night when a candle was kindled or a fire burned brightly on the hearth, lest the light should betray to a passing marauder the presence of a house which might be looted. Jean bowed his head and entered at the low door. The fire was flashing in the large open chimney. A bundle of vine faggots had been thrown on, and the light filled the chamber with its orange glare. By this light Jean saw a bed with a man lying on it; and a woman crying, beating her head and uttering wild words--her children clinging to her, sobbing, frightened, imploring her to desist. Erect, with a staff in his hand, stood a grey-headed, thick-bearded man, with dark eyes shadowed under heavy brows. He turned sharply as the lad entered. "Hah! Jean, you are back. It is well. It is well you were not here this day earlier. If they had taken you, there would have been a heavy ransom to pay, by the Holy Napkin of Cadouin! And how to redeem those already taken I know not." "What has been done to Rossignol, father?" asked Jean, going to the bed. "What will be done to the rest unless the ransom be forthcoming in fourteen days. They have left him thus, to show us what will be the fate of the seven others." "Seven others, father?" "Aye; they have taken off seven of the men of Ste. Soure. We must find the ransom, or they will send them back to us, even after the fashion of this poor man." "Is he dead, father?" The man lying on the bed moved, and, raising himself on his elbow, said-- "Young master, I am worse than dead. Dead, I would be no burden. Living, I shall drag my darlings underground with me." Then the woman, frantic with grief, turned on her knees, threw up her hands, and uttered a stream of mingled prayer and imprecation--prayer to Heaven and prayer to Hell; to Heaven to blast and torture the destroyers of her house, to Hell to hear her cry if Heaven were deaf. It was not possible for Jean to learn details from her in this fury and paroxysm. He drew his father outside the door and shut it. "Father," said he, "tell me what has taken place. It was Le Gros Guillem, was it not?"