"Benvenuto has succeeded," he cried; "the garrison has gone out. The hotel is ours!" and he tried to open the door, which proved to be locked.
Both of the young men put forth all their strength in an effort to force it.
"This way! this way!" exclaimed a voice, which found an echo in Ascanio's heart: "this way, Monsieur!"
He turned and saw Colombe at a window on the ground floor. In two bounds he was at her side.
"Aha!" exclaimed Jacques Aubry, following him; "it seems that we have friends in the citadel! Aha! you didn't tell me that, my boy!"
"Oh! save my father, Monsieur Ascanio!" cried Colombe, without any indication of surprise at the young man's appearance, and as if his presence were the most natural thing in the world. "They are fighting outside, do you know, and it's all for me, all on my account! O mon Dieu! mon Dieu! grant that they kill not one another!"
"Have no fear," said Ascanio, darting into the apartment, which had a door leading into the little courtyard; "have no fear, I will answer for everything!"
"Have no fear," said Jacques Aubry, following at his heels; "have no fear, we will answer for everything!"
As he entered the room Ascanio heard his name called a second time, but by a voice much less musical than the other.
"Who calls me?" he said.