It may be that those thoughts kept me awake until a late hour, and that to this I owe it that when on the morrow I awakened the morning was well advanced.

The sun was flooding my chamber, and at my bedside stood Anatole.
"What's o'clock ?" I inquired, sitting bolt upright.
"Past ten," said he, with stern disapproval.
"And you have let me sleep ?" I cried.
"We do little else at Lavedan even when we are awake," he grumbled.
"There was no reason why monsieur should rise." Then, holding out a paper, "Monsieur Stanislas de Marsac was here betimes this morning with Mademoiselle his sister.

He left this letter for you, monsieur." Amaze and apprehension were quickly followed by relief, since Anatole's words suggested that Marsac had not remained.

I took the letter, nevertheless, with some misgivings, and whilst I turned it over in my hands I questioned the old servant.
"He stayed an hour at the chateau, monsieur," Anatole informed me.
"Monsieur le Vicomte would have had you roused, but he would not hear of it.

'If what Monsieur de Saint-Eustache has told me touching your guest should prove to be true,' said he, 'I would prefer not to meet him under your roof, monsieur.' 'Monsieur de Saint-Eustache,' my master replied, 'is not a person whose word should have weight with any man of honour.' But in spite of that, Monsieur de Marsac held to his resolve, and although he would offer no explanation in answer to my master's many questions, you were not aroused.
"At the end of a half-hour his sister entered with Mademoiselle.