.

THE HOUSE IN THE RUELLE D'ARCY.
I had not gone down half a dozen steps before I heard a man enter the staircase from the street, and begin to ascend.

It struck me at once that this might be M.de Bruhl; and I realised that I had not left madame's apartment a moment too soon.

The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.

The staircase was dark, however, and being familiar with it, he had the advantage over me.