she had been informed at seven o'clock in the morning that a rope ladder floated from one of the windows of the castle ; she had hastened to milord 's chamber , had found it empty , the window open , and the bars filed , had remembered the verbal caution d'artagnyn had transmitted to her by her messenger , had trembled for the duchess , and running to the stable without taking time to have a horse saddled , had jumped upon the first she found , had galloped off like the wind , had alighted below in the courtyard , had ascended the stairs precipitately , and on the top step , as we have said , had encountered felton .