never spoken of. It has been forbidden, because this passage served Monsieur de Rohan, in times of war. My father knew the secret, and he showed it to me. I know the secret of entering it, and the secret of getting out. If I am in the forest I can go into the tower, and if I am in the tower I can go into the forest, without being seen. And when the enemy enters, there is nobody there. That is what la Tourgue is. Ah! I know it." The old man remained silent for a moment.
"You are evidently mistaken; if there were such a secret there, I should know it."
"Monseigneur, I am sure of it. There is a turning stone there."
"Oh, yes! You peasants believe in turning stones, in singing stones, in stones which go to drink in the night from a neighboring brook. All sheer nonsense."
"But as I have made it turn, the stone—"
"As others have heard them sing, comrade. La Tourgue is a strong, secure fortress, easy to defend; but he who counted on getting out through an underground passage would be a simpleton."
"But, monseigneur,—"
The old man shrugged his shoulders.
"We have no time to lose. Let us talk business."
This peremptory tone put an end to Halmalo's persistence.
The old man continued,—
"Let us go on. Listen. From Rougefeu, go to the woods of Montchevrier, where Bénédicité is,—the chief of the Twelve. He is another good man. He says his benedicite while he is having people shot. In war, no sentimentality. From Montchevrier go to——"
He stopped short.
"I am forgetting the money."
He took from his pocket a purse and a pocketbook and placed them in Halmalo's hands.
"In this pocketbook there are thirty thousand francs in assignats, something like three livres, ten sous: to be sure the assignats are counterfeit, but the genuine ones are worth no more; and in this purse,—pay attention,—there are one hundred louis d'or. I give you all that I have. I do not need anything here. Besides, it is better that no money should be found on my person. To go
