CHAPTER VII.

STRANGE DISAPPEARANCES

Monsieur de Pepicot spent so many minutes among the contents of his
travelling bag, that he was not in bed as soon as I. But he was by far
the sooner asleep, as his loud snoring testified. To that music ran my
thoughts of the beautiful young Countess and her unhappy situation, till
at last they passed into dreams. In the midst of the night I woke, and
listened for my neighbour's snoring. But it had ceased. Then I strained
my ears to catch the sound of his breathing, but none came. Wondering at
this, I rose and went over toward his bed. There was just light enough
by the window to see that it was empty.

I was still in the midst of my surprise, when the door opened with a
very slight creak, and in walked a slim figure so silently that I knew
it was without shoes.

"Is that you, Monsieur de Pepicot?" I asked.

"H'sh," he replied in a whisper, closing the door carefully. "Don't
disturb the slumbers of the household. You are very wakeful."

"No more so than you are, it seems," I said.

"That is true. I often suffer from sleeplessness, and I find a walk is
the thing to put me right."

"You were wise to take a light with you on your walk," I observed, for
he now produced a small lantern from under his loose-fitting doublet,
where it had been entirely concealed.

"Yes; one might hurt one's toes in these dark passages," he answered,
and placidly drew some papers from his breast pocket, folded them
carefully by the lantern's light, and then as carefully replaced them.
"I trust you made some progress in your affair here during the
afternoon."

"Yes. But you were kept busy with the Count."

"Oh, I don't complain. I was about to say that if you preferred to leave
the house to-night, no doubt I could manage it for you."

"Why should I prefer to leave to-night?"

"Oh, merely because this Count may be a dangerous man to have much to do
with. I know nothing of your affairs, and of course you have no interest
in mine. The Count will understand that, no doubt, and will not hold you
responsible for anything I may do, if you choose to stay here longer."

"Well, I must stay here longer, in any case."

"Then there is no more to be said," answered the long-nosed man,
extinguishing his lantern, which he wrapped up and put into his
portmanteau. He then lay down upon his bed, without undressing.

I returned to my own couch and was soon asleep.

When I woke again, it was daylight. Mon