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time is to be lost' 'I am still for poison,' observed the third, 'but consider their number;

why there are nine or ten of theate, I was not for letting theht be some of our enemies,' replied the second, 'I

did not so much mind numbers'

'But you must mind them now,' rejoined his comrade, 'or it will be worse

for you We are not more than six, and how can we ive soed' 'I'll tell you a better way,' rejoined the other impatiently, 'draw

closer' Blanche, who had listened to this conversation, in an agony, which it

would be iuish as

said, for the ruffians now spoke in lowered voices; but the hope, that

she ht save her friends from the plot, if she could find her way

quickly to theth

enough to turn her steps in search of the gallery Terror, however,

and darkness conspired against her, and, having ht, that issued froloo over a step that crossed the

passage, she fell to the ground