rbed in reverie
before it when the major-domo reappeared, followed by two lackeys, in
quiet livery, carrying a small table set for one person, which they
put down near the fire; and as one of them took the cover off an
old-fashioned, massive silver tureen, he announced to Isabelle that
her dinner was ready. The savoury odour from the smoking soup was very
tempting, and she was very hungry; but after she had mechanically seated
herself and dipped her spoon into the broth, it suddenly occurred to her
that the food might contain a narcotic--such things had been done--and
she pushed away the plate in front of her in alarm. The major-domo, who
was standing at a respectful distance watching her, ready to anticipate
her every wish, seemed to divine her thought, for he advanced to the
table and deliberately partook of all the viands upon it, as well as of
the wine and water--as if to prove to her that there was nothing wrong
or unusual about them. Isabelle was somewhat reassured by this, and
feeling that she would probably have need of all her strength, did bring
herself to eat and drink, though very sparingly. Then, quitting the
table, she sat down in a large easy-chair in front of the fire to think
over her terrible position, and endeavour to devise some means of escape
from it. When the servants had attended to their duties and left her
alone again, she rose languidly and walked slowly to the window--feeling
as weak as though she had had a severe illness, after the violent
emotions and terrors of the day, and as if she had aged years in the
last few hours. Could it be possible that only that very morning she and
de Sigognac had been walking together, with hearts full of happiness and
peace--and she had rapturously hailed the appearance of the first spring
violet as an omen of good, and gathered the sweet little blossom to
bestow upon the devoted lover who adored her? And now, alas! alas! they
were as inexorably and hopelessly separated as if half the globe lay
between them. No wonder that her breast heaved tumultuously with choking
sobs, and hot tears rained down over her pallid cheeks, as she wept
convulsively at the thought of all she had lost. But she did not long
indulge her grief--she remembered that at any moment she might have need
of all her coolness and fortitude--and making a mighty effort, like the
brave heroine that she was, she regained control over herself, and drove
back the gushing tears to await a more fitting