But he had succeeded in obtaining the rope, and now he was certain
that he could make his escape from his dangerous position. He laughed
gleefully, or rather with that chuckle which was habitual to him.
Anxiety, then joy, had made him forget M. d'Escorval. At the thought of
him, he was smitten with remorse.
"Poor man!" he murmured. "I shall succeed in saving my miserable life,
for which no one cares, but I was unable to save him. Undoubtedly, by
this time his friends have carried him away."
As he uttered these words he was leaning over the abyss. He doubted the
evidence of his own senses when he saw a faint light moving here and
there in the depths below.
What had happened? For something very extraordinary must have happened
to induce intelligent men like the baron's friends to display this
light, which, if observed from the citadel, would betray their presence
and ruin them.
But Corporal Bavois's moments were too precious to be wasted in idle
conjectures.
"Better go down on the double-quick," he said aloud, as if to spur on
his courage.
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