Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-11-15
CHAPTER XVIII.


TIL E sKYLIGHT IN THE ToIsoN DOR.
Once back in my room flung off my
cloak and took survey of my new
quarters. The room was long and low,
and situated in the topmost story of the
house. In one corner was settle COW
cred with faded brocade, whilst on
the other side there was wardrobe
and few necessaries. The bed was
placed at the extreme end of the room,
and close to the window which over
looked the back of the house, and
through which from where stood the
blue sky alone was visible, there was
a table and couple of chairs. Be-
tween the table and the bed INTERVIEWED
a clear space, about ten feet by six,
covered with a coarse carpeting. If Il
am thus precise in my description, |
would say | have done SO in order to
explain clearly what follows.
So far things were satisfactory
enough, aud beyond what had a right
to expect in such locality. The one
drawback was that l would be COM
| PEELED to use the turret at the end of
the passage for my watch, and thus run
| the risk of being observed from the
| other houses. In the meantime l de-
termined to see exactly what could be
| effected from the window, and pushing
| the table aside, SO as to get better
view, looked out. then saw that the
house l was in, as we'll as the Toison
| dor, was built against the remains of
| the old walls of Paris. Below me there
was sheer drop of so to 60 feet,
right into the bed of the abandoned
fosse, which was covered by thick I'M
| dergrowth and full of debris. thought
at first of stopping any further concern
with the window, but as was turning
away 1 looked rather particularly at
the wall below Inc and saw that
ledge ran along it about three feet be-
low the window. Following it's track
with my eyes, | observed that it was
carried along the face of the Toison
dor, and in doing this became aware
| that there was window open at the
back of Babette's house, and that this
was situated on the same level as my
room, but just about the middle, in
stead of the extreme end, as mine was.
| w
window, and that it's lookout was on
| place where never soul seemed to
come, I could not but think that,
madame were in the Toison dor,
in all probability her room was there,
and 1 swore bitterly to myself at the
thought of how impossible it would be
to reach her. ! then craned out and
looked upwards, and saw that my house
was half-story lower than the Toison
dor, and that, whilst the latter had a
high, sloping roof, the portion of the
long and narrow terrace, with low
| machicolated parapet running along
the edge. Thus if there were u door
or window in the Toison dor that
opened on to my roof, it would be posi-
BILE to step out thereon, and then
drew back, my blood burning. Ifitwas
possible to step out from the Toison
dor on to the roof of the house oc-
cupied, 1t might be equally easy to get
thence into the Toison dor. Taking
my sword l measured the distance of
the ledge from the window sill, and
then, holding on to the mullions by one
hand, stretched out as far as could,
and found could just touch the top of
the parapet with the point of my blade.
In short, the position was this: that, so
hard and smooth was the outside of the
wall it was impossible for anything,
save lizard, to get along it to the win
dow behind which l supposed madame
was prisoned, yet it was feasible, with
the aid of a rope thrown over the grin
ming head of the gargoyle little above
me, or else over the low battlement Of
the parapet, to reach the roof, and the
odds were in favor Of there being some
sort of q door or window that would
give ingress thence into the Toison
dor. I began after this to be n little
more satisfied with my quarters, and
determined to set about my eXplora-
tons about the dinner hour, when
most people would be within, and the
chance of discovery reduced to mini
mum.
After allowing little time to elapse
descended to the shop and began care
lessly running my eyes over the mis-
cellaneous collection of articles there
in. The fence followed me about, now
recommending this thing and now that.
At last l saw what looked to be q ball
of rope lying in corner and covered
with dust.
"What is that?" inquired, touching
it with the point of my sword.
The man stopped without word
and picking it up, busted it carefully
, then he unrolled ladder of silken cord
about IL or Is feet in length.
'sThis, captain" he said, swinging il
backward and forward. belonged not
SO long ago to M. Gle Bellievre, though
you may not believe me-"
II have no doubt you are speaking
the truth, but it seems rather weak"
ION the contrary, monsieur, will yor
test it and see?"
, We managed to do this by means Of
two hooks that were slung from a beam
above us, in a manner to satisfy me
that the ladder was sufficient to bear
, double my weight; and then, as if con.
tent with this, flung it aside.
''Will not monsieur take it?" asked
the man; 'it is cheap"
ut is good enough" answered, "if
had business on hand; but at present
1 am waiting"
IF monsieur has leisure might be
able to give him hint that would be
worth something in crowns"
II am lazy when in luck, compere
No I will not take the ladder"