This being done, he felt secure, for he knew that in the intense darkness which now enveloped them she could not move from her place without knocking against the furniture between them, so he glued his face to the partition.

An opening just large enough for one eye allowed him to see everything that was going on in the next room.

Just as he began his observations, the treasurer at Mademoiselle de Guerchi's invitation was about to take a seat near her, but not too near for perfect respect.

Both of them were silent, and appeared to labour under great embarrassment at finding themselves together, and explanations did not readily begin.

The lady had not an idea of the motive of the visit, and her quondam lover feigned the emotion necessary to the success of his undertaking.