And he was about to order the attack, when the disturbance outside reached his ears, and checked him for a moment.  Sir Giles was considering what could be the cause of the tumult, and hesitating whether to go forth and support Sir Francis, in case he stood in need of assistance, when the discomfited myrmidons rushed into the room.  A few words sufficed to explain what had occurred, and indeed the bloody visages of some of the men showed how roughly they had been handled.  Though greatly exasperated, Sir Giles was determined not to be baulked of his prey; and fearing Jocelyn might escape in the confusion, which an attack upon the ’prentices would occasion, he gave the word for his instant seizure, and rushed towards him, as before related.  How he was baffled has already been told.  His wrath knew no bounds when the young man disappeared.  He hurled himself furiously against the door, but it resisted all his efforts to burst it open.  Suddenly the bolt was withdrawn, and Clement Lanyere and his men stood before him.

“Have you secured him?” Sir Giles demanded, trying to descry the fugitive among them.  “Death and fiends! you have not let him escape?”

“No one has passed us, except Madame Bonaventure,” the promoter replied.  “She was wholly unattended, and came in this direction.  We were stationed within yon anti-chamber, which appears to be the sole means of communication with this passage, and we ought therefore to have intercepted the young man when he came forth.”

“You were not wont to be thus short-sighted, Lanyere.  There must be some other mode of exit, which you have failed to discover,” Sir Giles cried furiously.  “Ha! here it is!” he exclaimed, dashing aside a piece of tapestry that seemed merely hung against the wall, but in reality concealed a short flight of steps.  “Purblind dolts that you are, not to find this out.  You shall answer for your negligence hereafter, if we take him not.”

And, accompanied by the troop, he hurried down the steps, which brought him to a lower room, communicating on one hand with a small court, and, on the other, with the kitchen and offices attached to the tavern.  Directing Lanyere to search the latter, Sir Giles rushed into the court, and uttered a shout of savage joy on perceiving Jocelyn, sword in hand, scaling a wall which separated the court from the bowling-green.

Some difficulty, it appeared, had occurred to the hostess in forcing open a private door in the yard leading to the green, which being rarely used (for the principal entrance was situated elsewhere), its fastenings were rusty, and refused to act.  This delay favoured the pursuers; and on hearing their approach, Jocelyn strove to effect his retreat in the manner described.

But Sir Giles was further served, though unintentionally, by Madame Bonaventure, who succeeded in drawing back the rusty bolt at the very moment he came up; and no impediment now existing, the knight thrust her rudely aside, and sprang through the doorway just as Jocelyn leaped from the wall.