le Vidame de Bezers to pay his respects to Mademoiselle!"-- Well, there was something like a panic, I confess! We scrambled to our feet, muttering, "The Wolf!" The entrance at Caylus is by a ramp rising from the gateway to the level of the terrace.

This sunken way is fenced by low walls so that one may not--when walking on the terrace--fall into it.

Gil had spoken before his head had well risen to view, and this gave us a moment, just a moment.

Croisette made a rush for the doorway into the house; but failed to gain it, and drew himself up behind a buttress of the tower, his finger on his lip.

I am slow sometimes, and Marie waited for me, so that we had barely got to our legs--looking, I dare say, awkward and ungainly enough--before the Vidame's shadow fell darkly on the ground at Catherine's feet.
"Mademoiselle!" he said, advancing to her through the sunshine, and bending over her slender hand with a magnificent grace that was born of his size and manner combined, "I rode in late last night from Toulouse; and I go to-morrow to Paris.