them on our track.

"Well, it is quite settled that we will try that way, but it may
be some time before the opportunity occurs. However, you may as
well get the two disguises and the two brace of pistols, and stow
them away somewhere where they are not likely to be found."

"There are plenty of places where one can do that, master; there is
a row of old trees inside the fortifications, and I warrant that
if I cannot find one with a hollow large enough to stow them away
in, I can hide them in the branches with small chance of their
ever being seen."

Another month passed. Paolo made a point of occasionally going out
soon after the gates were open, saying casually that his master
had a fancy for a bottle of better wine with his breakfast, or that
he was going to get some eggs to make an omelette for him. Hector
was in no particular hurry, for the news had come that Turenne
with his own troops and those of Hesse had, with the Swedes, marched
away for the Rhine. It was rumoured that they would be joined by
another army, for in no other way could the Imperialists account
for Turenne having retired when he had a force at least equal to
any that Merci could set in the field against him. Hector saw that
at any rate there was no chance of a great battle being fought just
then, and felt, therefore, no impatience to be off. Two or three
times carts with faggots had been unloaded after the gates were
closed, but as they took nothing out, it was impossible for him to
conceal himself in them.

At last, to his satisfaction, a number of waggons of flour came