The vesper bell had stopped.

Through the wood came the salt savour of the sea on the cool sunset air.

She threw back her head and walked swiftly towards it, her heart beating hard, her eyes shining with the light of purpose, her step elastic with the vigour of youth and health.

A quarter-hour's walking brought her to the cliff of the Couperon.
As she gazed out over the sea, however, a voice in the bay below caught her ear.

She looked down.