The revenues of Marsac, though small, should have kept; my mother, whom I had last seen in Paris before the Nemours edict, in tolerable comfort--such modest comfort, at any rate, as could scarcely be looked for in such a house as this--obscure, ill-tended, unlighted.

To my perplexity was added, before I reached the top of the stairs, disquietude--disquietude on her account as well as on mademoiselle's.

I felt that something was wrong, and would have given much to recall the invitation I had pressed on the latter.
What the young lady thought herself I could pretty well guess, as I listened to her hurried breathing at my shoulder.

With every step I expected her to refuse to go farther.

But, having once made up her mind, she followed me stubbornly, though the darkness was such that involuntarily I loosened my dagger, and prepared to defend myself should this turn out to be a trap.
We reached the top, however, without accident.