"Go, I beg! Go now, Monsieur! The greatest kindness you can do me is to place yourself as quickly as possible beyond his reach." A faint colour, the flush of hope, had returned to her cheeks.

Her eyes glittered.
"Right, Mademoiselle!" he cried, obedient for once, "I go! And do you be of good courage." He held her hand: an instant, then, moving to the door, he opened it and listened.

They all pressed behind him to hear.

A murmur of voices, low and distant, mounted the staircase and bore out the girl's tale; apart from this the house was silent.

Tignonville cast a last look at Mademoiselle, and, with a gesture of farewell, glided a-tiptoe to the stairs and began to descend, his face hidden in his cowl.