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man's gun where I found it； a search must have followed and I should
certainly have been discovered。 As it was； the patrol saw no sign of their
sentry； and thought； no doubt； that he had moved along the line of the
roofs。
They hurried on； therefore； in that direction； and I； the instant that their
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backs were turned； rushed to the open trap…door and descended the flight
of steps which led from it。 The house appeared to be an empty one； for I
passed through the heart of it and out； by an open door； into the street
beyond。
It was a narrow and deserted lane； but it opened into a broader road；
which was dotted with fires； round which a great number of soldiers and
peasants were sleeping。
The smell within the city was so horrible that one wondered how
people could live in it； for during the months that the siege had lasted there
had been no attempt to cleanse the streets or to bury the dead。 Many
people were moving up and down from fire to fire； and among them I
observed several monks。 Seeing that they came and went unquestioned； I
took heart and hurried on my way in the direction of the great square。
Once a man rose from beside one of the fires and stopped me by seizing
my sleeve。 He pointed to a woman who lay motionless on the road； and I
took him to mean that she was dying； and that he desired me to administer
the last offices of the Church。 I sought refuge； however； in the very little
Latin that was left to me。 〃Ora pro nobis；〃 said I； from the depths of my
cowl。 〃Te Deum laudamus。
Ora pro nobis。〃 I raised my hand as I spoke and pointed forward。
The fellow released my sleeve and shrank back in silence； while I； with a
solemn gesture； hurried upon my way。
As I had imagined； this broad boulevard led out into the central square；
which was full of troops and blazing with fires。 I walked swiftly onward；
disregarding one or two people who addressed remarks to me。 I passed
the cathedral and followed the street which had been described to me。
Being upon the side of the city which was farthest from our attack； there
were no troops encamped in it； and it lay in darkness； save for an
occasional glimmer in a window。 It was not difficult to find the house to
which I had been directed； between the wine… shop and the cobbler's。
There was no light within and the door was shut。 Cautiously I pressed
the latch； and I felt that it had yielded。 Who was within I could not tell；
and yet I must take the risk。 I pushed the door open and entered。
It was pitch…dark withinthe more so as I had closed the door behind
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me。 I felt round and came upon the edge of a table。 Then I stood still
and wondered what I should do next； and how I could gain some news of
this Hubert； in whose house I found myself。 Any mistake would cost me
not only my life but the failure of my mission。 Perhaps he did not live
alone。 Perhaps he was only a lodger in a Spanish family； and my visit
might bring ruin to him as well as to myself。 Seldom in my life have I
been more perplexed。 And then； suddenly； something turned my blood
cold in my veins。 It was a voice； a whispering voice； in my very ear。
〃Mon Dieu！〃 cried the voice； in a tone of agony。 〃Oh； mon Dieu！ mon
Dieu！〃 Then there was a dry sob in the darkness； and all was still once
more。
It thrilled me with horror； that terrible voice； but it thrilled me also
with hope； for it was the voice of a Frenchman。
〃Who is there？〃 I asked。
There was a groaning； but no reply。
〃Is that you； Monsieur Hubert？〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 sighed the voice； so low that I could hardly hear it。
〃Water； water； for Heaven's sake； water！〃
I advanced in the direction of the sound； but only to come in contact
with the wall。 Again I heard a groan； but this time there could be no
doubt that it was above my head。 I put up my hands； but they felt only
empty air。
〃Where are you？〃 I cried。
〃Here！ Here！〃 whispered the strange； tremulous voice。
I stretched my hand along the wall and I came upon a man's naked foot。
It was as high as my face； and yet； so far as I could feel； it had nothing to
support it。 I staggered back in amazement。 Then I took a tinder… box
from my pocket and struck a light。 At the first flash a man seemed to be
floating in the air in front of me； and I dropped the box in my amazement。
Again with tremulous fingers I struck the flint against the steel； and this
time I lit not only the tinder but the wax taper。 I held it up； and if my
amazement was lessened my horror was increased by that which it
revealed。
The man had been nailed to the wall as a weasel is nailed to the door
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of a barn。 Huge spikes had been driven through his hands and his feet。
The poor wretch was in his last agony； his head sunk upon his shoulder
and his blackened tongue protruding from his lips。 He was dying as
much from thirst as from his wounds； and these inhuman wretches had
placed a beaker of wine upon the table in front of him to add a fresh pang
to his tortures。
I raised it to his lips。 He had still strength enough to swallow； and the
light came back a little to his dim eyes。
〃Are you a Frenchman？〃 he whispered。
〃Yes。 They have sent me to learn what had befallen you。〃
〃They discovered me。 They have killed me for it。
But before I die let me tell you what I know。 A little more of that
wine； please！ Quick！ Quick！ I am very near the end。 My strength is
going。 Listen to me！
The powder is stored in the Mother Superior's room。
The wall is pierced； and the end of the train is in Sister Angela's cell；
next the chapel。 All was ready two days ago。 But they discovered a
letter and they tortured me。〃
〃Good he