By God's mercy I remained undiscovered, and was alone with De Croix.
For a short time, assured as I was of this fact, I did not venture to creep from my place of concealment, or make my presence known to my companion.

What ears might be listening, I knew not; nor dared I trust too much to the Frenchman's already over-taxed nerves.

He did not move from the position where he fell; but I could hear him groan and sob, with now and then a broken ejaculation.

Without, the yelling and uproar grew perceptibly less, although an occasional outburst gave evidence that the carousal was not wholly ended.

Finally I pushed back the robe that covered me, now grown uncomfortably warm, and crept cautiously toward the place where I knew him to be lying.