She felt the uselessness of that moan unheard of men, and turned to hasten through the apartments, hoping that all the issues were not closed upon her.

Reaching the library she sought in vain for some secret passage; then, passing between the long rows of books, she reached a window which looked upon the courtyard.
Again she sounded the horn, but without success against the voice of the hurricane.
In her helplessness she thought of trusting herself to one of the women,--all creatures of her husband,--when, passing into her oratory, she found that the count had locked the only door that led to their apartments.

This was a horrible discovery.

Such precautions taken to isolate her showed a desire to proceed without witnesses to some horrible execution.

As moment after moment she lost hope, the pangs of childbirth grew stronger and keener.