With a heavy heart I completed my simple toilet, wondering all the while
how much of Madame's story might be false and how much, if any, true. Then
I looked out upon the dingy courtyard below, in its deep damp shadow, and
thought, 'How could an assassin have scaled that height in safety, and
entered so noiselessly as not to awaken the slumbering gamester?' Then
there were the iron bars across my window. What a fool had I been to object
to that security!
I was labouring hard to reassure myself, and keep all ghastly suspicions at
arm's length. But I wished that my room had been to the front of the house,
with some view less dismal.
Lost in these ruminations of fear, as I stood at the window I was startled
by the sound of a sharp tread on the lobby, and by the key turning in the
lock of my door.
In a panic I sprang back into the corner, and stood with my eyes fixed
upon the door. It opened a little, and the black head of Meg Hawkes was
introduced.
'Oh, Meg!' I cried; 'thank God!'
'I guessed'twas you, Miss Maud. I am feared, Miss.'
The miller's daughter was pale, and her eyes, I thought, were red and
swollen.
Pages:
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734