f course been stripped of its leading), and thus in
the unsuspected space to secure a hiding-place, often for less innocent
commodities than the salt, which the iniquitous and oppressive _gabelle_
had always led the French peasant to smuggle, ever since the days of the
first Valois. The room had a certain appearance of comfort; there was a
partition across it, a hearth with some remains of wood-ashes, a shelf,
holding a plate, cup, lamp, and a few other necessaries; and altogether
the aspect of the place was so unlike what Eustacie had expected, that
she almost forgot the Templar as she saw the dame begin to arrange
a comfortable-looking couch for her wearied limbs. Yet she felt very
unwilling to let them depart, and even ventured on faltering out the
inquiry whether the good woman could not stay with her,--she would
reward her largely.

'It is for the love of Heaven, Madame, not for gain,' said Nanon Rotrou,
rather stiffly. 'If you were ill, or needed me, all must then give way;
but for me to be absent this evening would soon be reported around the
village down there, for there are many who would find occasion against
us.' But, by way of consolation, they gave her a whistle, and showed
her that the window of their cottage was much nearer to a loophole-slit
looking towards the east than she had fancied. The whistle perpetrated
a mist unearthly screech, a good deal like that of an owl, but more
discordant, and Nanon assured her that the sound would assuredly break
her slumbers, and bring her in a few minutes at any moment of need.
In fact, the noise was so like the best authenticated accounts of the
shrieks indulged in by the spirits of the Temple, that Eustacie had
wit enough to suspect that it might be the foundation of some of the
stories; and with that solace to her alarms, she endured the departure
of her hosts, Nanon promising a visit in the early morning.

The poor child was too weary to indulge in many terrors, the beneficent
torpor of excessive fatigue was upon her, happily bringing slumberous
oblivion instead of feverish restlessness. She strove to repeat her
accustomed orisons; but sleep was too strong for her, and she was soon
lying dreamlessly upon the clean homely couch prepared for her.

When she awoke, it was with a start. The moon was shining in through the
circular window, making strange white shapes on the floor, all quivering
with the shadows of the ivy sprays. It looked strange and eerie enough
at