sure that her lover never had entered the closet
through the parlor, as he never had been in this part of the house
farther than the little drawing-room. Suddenly a thought of the little
corridor door struck her; she remembered that this door was not usually
locked because the one from the library was always closed; she knew that
Octave had a key to the latter, and she readily understood how he had
reached her apartment. Mustering up all her courage through excessive
fear, she returned to the closet, hurried down the stairs, and pushed the
bolt. She then returned to the parlor and fell upon the divan, completely
exhausted by her expedition.

Little by little her emotion passed away. Her fright appeared childish to
her, as soon as she believed herself sheltered from danger; she promised
herself to give Octave a good scolding the next morning; then she
renounced this little pleasure, when she remembered that it would force
her to admit the discovery of the pin, and of course to return it to him,
for she had resolved to keep it. She had always had a particular fancy
for this pin, but she would never have dared to ask him for it, and
besides, it was the fact that Octave usually wore it that made it of
infinite value to her. The desire to appropriate it was irresistible,
since chance had thrown it into her hands. She tied a black satin ribbon
about her white neck, and pinned it with the precious ruby. After kissing
it as devotedly as if it were a relic, she ran to her mirror to judge of
the effect of the theft.

"How pretty, and how I love it!" said she; "but how can I wear it so that
he will not see it?"

Before she could solve this problem, she heard a slight noise, which
petrified her as she stood before her glass.

"It is he!" she thought; after standing for a moment half stunned, she
dragged herself as far as the stairs, and leaning over, listened with
fear and trembling. At first she could hear nothing but the beating of
her heart; then she heard the other noise again, and more distinctly.
Somebody was turning the handle of the door, trying to open it. The
unexpected obstacle of the bolt doubtless exasperated the would-be
visitor, for the door was shaken and pushed with a violence which
threatened to break the lock or push down the door.

Madame de Bergenheim's first thought was to run into her chamber and lock
the door behind her;--the second showed her the danger that might result
if the slightest noise should