“As they saw the ghastly sight before them they recoiled in horror. “‘Where is the murderer?’ they shouted. “The hound gave a fierce growl, and sniffed at the door. “‘He is here! he is here!’ “‘In the closet he is hiding.’ “‘Hold the hound while we see,’ said many. “Two powerful men seized the dog, and held him by the throat. “A third and fourth footman, sword in hand, opened the door. “I was discovered. “With a fearful growl, the hound tried to burst away from those who held him, but could not. “In a second I was seized by several retainers, who with swords pointed at my breast, led me away to prison. “I was cast into a loathsome dungeon that same night on the charge of murder. “Heavy irons and manacles weighed me down. “But I could not sleep. “The gory ghost of Baptiste was ever crossing before my excited imagination, and a cold sweat oozed out all over me. “I thought that my last hour was come and that on the morrow I should be hung. “Judge of my joy, however, when in the middle of the night the governor of the prison entered my cell, and ordered my release. “He had received a letter from Donna Evelina, who had that same night entered a convent for life, stating the whole truth about what the hound had done. “I was accordingly released. “This was a narrow escape for me, and as soon as I got clear of the prison walls, I hired a horse, and left the town. “I did not have much money to spare, so as I was riding along, I met a merchant. “I robbed him in a very cool and clever manner, and beside his money, took a pair of pistols and a passport from him. “I tied him to a tree, and left him alone in his glory. “My mind was made up to leave France, and accordingly directed my way towards a small town on the sea coast. “I had not gone far when I was overtaken by two mounted officers, who said it had been discovered that the person just liberated from the castle had turned out to be one of the ‘Scorchers,’ and they were in search of him. “I muffled myself up so well, and assumed a strange voice so cleverly, that I threw the officers off the scent. “I told them, however, that the very man they were looking for had attempted to rob me, but that I had proved more than a match for him, and in punishment had tied him to a tree, by the roadside. “They believed my story, and hastily galloped back in the direction I had indicated. “Of course I need not say that I rode off rapidly in the other direction. “I came to the small town I intended, but it was walled in and had gates. “I knocked at the gates for a long time, and at last they were opened by a stout sturdy porter. “He demanded my passport. “I gave him the one I had stolen from the merchant. “He eyed me very closely, and said that the passport did not agree with my description, and he should detain me as a rough, dangerous-looking character. “‘Don’t be quite so clever,’ I said, half annoyed.