He had left the candle on the floor, and we three stood round it.

Save for the long shadows we cast on the walls and two pallets hastily thrown down in one corner, the place was empty.

I did not look much at it, and I would not look at the others.

I flung myself on one of the pallets and turned my face to the wall, despairing.

I thought bitterly of the failure we had made of it, and of the Vidame's triumph.