'That he may not be suspected of conniving at your escape.' 'Oh!' she cried, with a spark of her former passion.

'Then it is to be put about that Mademoiselle de la Vire had fled from Chize with M.de Marsac, is it?
I thought that!' 'Through the assistance of M.de Marsac,' I retorted, correcting her coldly.

'It is for you, mademoiselle,' I continued, 'to weigh that disadvantage against the unpleasantness of remaining here.

It only remains for me to ask you to decide quickly.

Time presses, and I have stayed here too long already.' The words had barely passed my lips when they received unwelcome confirmation in the shape of a distant sound--the noisy closing of a door, which, clanging through the house at such an hour--I judged it to be after three o'clock--could scarcely mean anything but mischief.
This noise was followed immediately, even while we stood listening with raised fingers, by other sounds--a muffled cry, and the tramp of heavy footsteps in a distant passage.