t. Do
you understand? _I wish it_."

He laid such emphasis upon those three words, that to any one who knew
him they signified plainly, not "I wish," but "I will."

The tyranny was sweet to Roland, and he accepted it with grateful
thanks.

CHAPTER XXXVIII. THE TWO SIGNALS

Let us now relate what happened at the Chateau des Noires-Fontaines
three days after the events we have just described took place in Paris.

Since the successive departures of Roland, then Madame de Montrevel and
her son, and finally Sir John--Roland to rejoin his general, Madame de
Montrevel to place Edouard in school, and Sir John to acquaint Roland
with his matrimonial plans--Amelie had remained alone with Charlotte at
the Chateau des Noires-Fontaines. We say _alone_, because Michel and his
son Jacques did not live in the house, but in the little lodge at the
gate where he added the duties of porter to those of gardener.

It therefore happened that at night all the windows, excepting those of
Amelie, which, as we have said, were on the first floor overlooking the
garden, and that of Charlotte in the attic, were left in darkness.

Madame de Montrevel had taken the second chambermaid with her. The two
young girls were perhaps rather isolated in their part of the house,
which consisted of a dozen bedrooms on three floors, especially at a
time when so many rumors of robberies on the highroads reached them.
Michel, therefore, proposed to his young mistress that he sleep in the
main building, so as to be near her in case of need. But she, in a firm
voice, assured him that she felt no fear, and desired no change in the
customary routine of the chateau.

Michel did not insist, and retired, saying that Mademoiselle might, in
any case, sleep in peace, for he and Jacques would make the rounds of
the house during the night.

Amelie at first seemed anxious about those rounds; but she soon noticed
that Michel and Jacques contented themselves with watching on the edge
of the forest of Seillon, and the frequent appearance of a jugged hare,
or a haunch of venison on the table, proved to her that Michel kept his
word regarding the promised rounds.

She therefore ceased to trouble about Michel's rounds, which were always
on the side of the house opposite to that where she feared them.

Now, as we have said, three days after the events we have just related,
or, to speak more correctly, during the night following the third day,
those who were accusto