e Frank. "Now is
my time!"

Not five minutes more had passed, before Teresa made an excuse for
running upstairs again. She had forgotten to leave the bell rope, in
case Carmina woke, within the reach of her hand. The excellent heart of
the hostess made allowance for natural anxiety. "Do it, you good soul,"
she said; "and come back directly!" Left by herself, she filled her
glass again, and smiled. Sweetness of temper (encouraged by cherry
brandy) can even smile at a glass--unless it happens to be empty.

Approaching her own rooms, Teresa waited, and listened, before she
showed herself. No sound reached her through the half open sitting-room
door. She noiselessly entered the bedroom, and then locked the door
again. Once more she listened; and once more there was nothing to be
heard. Had he seen her on the stairs?

As the doubt crossed her mind, she heard the boards creak on the floor
above. Mr. Le Frank was in his room.

Did this mean that her well-laid plan had failed? Or did it mean that he
was really changing his shoes and stockings? The last inference was the
right one.

He had made no mere excuse downstairs. The serious interests that he
had at stake, were not important enough to make him forget his precious
health. His chest was delicate; a cold might settle on his lungs. The
temptation of the half-open door had its due effect on this prudent man;
but it failed to make him forget that his feet were wet.

The boards creaked again; the door of his room was softly closed--then
there was silence. Teresa only knew when he had entered the sitting-room
by hearing him try the bolted baize door. After that, he must have
stepped out again. He next tried the door of the bedchamber, from the
stairs.

There was a quiet interval once more. Teresa noiselessly drew back the
bolt; and, opening the baize door by a mere hair's-breadth, admitted
sound from the sitting-room. She now heard him turning the key in a
chiffonier, which only contained tradesmen's circulars, receipted bills,
and a few books.

(Even with the canister in the cupboard, waiting to be opened, his
uppermost idea was to discover Carmina's vindictive motive in Carmina's
papers!)

The contents of the chiffonier disappointed him--judging by the tone in
which he muttered to himself. The next sound startled Teresa; it was a
tap against the lintel of the door behind which she was standing. He had
thrown open the cupboard.

The rasping of the cover, as he too