"If I agree," she said, "will you promise to do as I tell you from
point to point?"
"Can you ask?" replied Francis. "I would do so willingly on your
bare word."
She turned the key and threw open the door.
"Be it so," said she. "You do not know what you ask, but be it so.
Whatever you hear," she continued, "whatever happens, do not return
to this house; hurry fast until you reach the lighted and populous
quarters of the city; even there be upon your guard. You are in a
greater danger than you fancy. Promise me you will not so much as
look at my keepsake until you are in a place of safety."
"I promise," replied Francis.
She put something loosely wrapped in a handkerchief into the young
man's hand; and at the same time, with more strength than he could
have anticipated, she pushed him into the street.
"Now, run!" she cried.
He heard the door close behind him, and the noise of the bolts
being replaced.
"My faith," said he, "since I have promised!"
And he took to his heels down the lane that leads into the Rue
Ravignan.
He was not fifty paces from the house with the green blinds when
the most diabolical outcry suddenly arose out of the stillness of
the night. Mechanically he stood still; another passenger followed
his example; in the neighbouring floors he saw people crowding to
the windows; a conflagration could not have produced more
disturbance in this empty quarter.
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