Afterwards I heard that they were afraid of Madame, who was given to cross
purposes, and violent in her cups. She had been noisy and quarrelsome
downstairs. She was under the delusion that I was to be conveyed away that
night to a remote and safe place, and she was to be handsomely compensated
for services and evidence to be afterwards given. She was not to be
trusted, however, with the truth. That was to be known but to three people
on earth.
I never knew, but I believe that the spiced claret which Madame drank was
drugged. She was a person who could, I have been told. Drink a great deal
without exhibiting any change from it but an inflamed colour and furious
temper. I can only state for certain what I saw, and that was, that shortly
after she had finished the claret she laid down upon my bed, and, I now
know, fell asleep. I then thought she was _feigning_ sleep only, and that
she was really watching me.
About an hour after this I suddenly heard a little _clink_ in the
yard beneath. I peeped out, but saw nothing. The sound was repeated,
however--sometimes more frequently, sometimes at long intervals.
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