"How," said Martin-Guerre, "we must make our final arrangements, and assign to every man the part he is to play and his position." "What sort of job have we on hand?" asked Pilletrousse. "Oh, a sort of assault," replied Martin. "Then I will be the first one to scale the wall!" cried Yvonnet. "Very well," said the squire. "No, that isn't fair!" exclaimed Ambrosio. "Yvonnet always monopolizes the first place in times of danger. Really, it seems as if he thinks of nobody but himself." "Let him have his way," said Gabriel, interposing. "In the hazardous ascent that we are about to make, the foremost will be the least exposed, I imagine. As a proof of my belief, I propose myself to be the last to ascend." "Then Yvonnet will be cheated," cried Ambrosio, laughing. Martin-Guerre assigned to each man his place in the order of march, as well as his number in the boat and in the assault. Ambrosio, Pilletrousse, and Landry were notified that they would have to row. In fact, everything that could be was arranged beforehand, so as to avoid confusion and misunderstanding as far as possible. Lactance took Martin-Guerre aside for a moment. "Pardon me," said he; "but do you imagine there is any killing to be done?" "I am not sure; but it is very possible," Martin replied. "Thanks," returned Lactance; "in that case I think I will say my prayers and do penance in advance for three or four dead men and as many wounded." When everything was settled, Gabriel advised his men to obtain an hour or two of sleep. He undertook to awaken them himself when it was time. "Yes, I shall be glad to get a little sleep," said Yvonnet; "for my poor nerves are terribly excited this evening, and I need above all things to be cool and fresh when I am fighting." In a few moments not a sound was to be heard within the tent save the regular breathing of the veterans and the monotonous _Pater nosters_ of Lactance. Soon the last-mentioned noise also ceased, for drowsiness had at last overcome Lactance, and he too was asleep. Gabriel alone was awake and deep in thought. Toward one o'clock he awoke his men one by one. They all rose and equipped themselves in silence. Then they went softly from the tent and left the camp. At the words, 'Calais and Charles,' uttered in a low voice by Gabriel, the sentinels allowed them to pass unquestioned. The little band, under the guidance of Anselme the fisherman, took its way through the fields, along the shore. Not a word was uttered. Nothing was to be heard save the moaning of the wind, and the melancholy voice of the sea in the distance. It was a dark and stormy night. Not a soul was to be seen along the road traversed by our adventurers. Even if they had met any one, it was more than probable that they would have passed unnoticed; but had they been seen, they would certainly have been mistaken for phantoms at that hour and in such darkness. Within the city, there was also one man who at that hour was still awake.