owever, it occurred to me to walk pass the door of that chamber, to the
end of the corridor. This passage soon turned leftward into a rear wing
of the building. I followed it, between chamber doors on one side and,
on the other, windows looking down on the smaller garden. It terminated
at last in a blind wall. I supposed myself to be now over that part of
the house which lay beyond the closed door at the end of the picture
gallery. I looked cautiously out of one of the windows, wondering how
much of the great garden might be visible from there. I could see a
large part of it, but not a soul anywhere in it. As I drew back in
disappointment, I was suddenly startled by a low sound that seemed to
come from somewhere beneath me--a single brief sound, which made my
breath stop and pierced my very heart.

It was the sob of a woman.

CHAPTER VI.

WHAT THE PERIL WAS

It seemed to me like a sob of despair, or of the breaking down of
patience, and, knowing what I did already, I quickly imagined it to
proceed from the Countess in a moment when she was beginning to lose
hope of Monsieur de Merri's arrival. To me, therefore, it seemed a stab
of reproach.

I judged that it came by way of the window below me. So forthwith, at
all hazards, sheltering myself from outside view as well as I could with
the casement, I thrust my head out over the sill, and said in a low
tone:

"Madame."

I waited for some moments, with a beating heart, and then called again,
"Madame."

I thought I heard whispering below. Then a head was thrust out of the
window--a woman's head, soft haired and shapely. "Here I am," I
whispered. The head twisted round, and the face was that of the young
woman who had received the messenger at the postern the day before. But
it was clear that she had not been sobbing, though her face wore a look
of concern.

"I must speak with Madame the Countess," said I, and added what I
thought would most expedite matters: "I bring news of Monsieur de
Merri."

The head disappeared: there was more whispering: then the maid looked
out again, using similar precautions to mine with regard to the
casement.

"Who are you, Monsieur?" she asked.

"I will explain all later. There is little time now. I may soon be
looked for. Contrive to let me have an interview with Madame the
Countess. I don't know how to get to her: I'm not acquainted with the
chateau."

"Put your head a little further out, Monsieur,--so that I can see