I
don't know how high up the room is. It seems a great many steps up the
winding stairs before one comes to the landing before the door."

"Is it at the top of the tower, then?"

"No; for beyond our door the stairs begin again, and they seem to wind
more steeply."

"You noticed the sunset. Then you must have been there yesterday
evening."

"Yes; we were taken there shortly after noon yesterday. That was the
limit to the time given the Countess in which to prove her innocence.
She was summoned to the picture gallery by the Count himself, and nobody
else was there but Captain Ferragant. The door was closed against me,
and what passed between that saint and those two devils I know not; but
after a little the door was opened, and there she was, very pale and
with her eyes raised in prayer. The Count, who was blue with
vindictiveness, told me to get together what things Madame should order;
and when that was done, he bade us follow, and led the way down to the
court-yard and to the tower, the Captain walking behind. As we climbed
those narrow winding steps, I wished the Count might trip in the
half-darkness and break his neck, but alas, it was only poor Madame who
stumbled now and then. The Count showed us into the room, already
furnished for us, and waited till a man had brought the trunk in which I
had put some of Madame's clothes. The Count left without a word, and we
heard the door locked outside. At first I thought we were to be left to
starve, but after some hours the door was unlocked by a man on guard
outside, and Brigitte appeared with our supper. She told us she was to
come twice a day with our food, and for other necessary services. And
when she came again this morning, I had planned how I should manage to
see you."

"You are as clever as you are true, Mathilde."

"Fortunately Brigitte looks such a simple, witless creature that the man
on guard on the landing has not thought to pry while she has been with
us, and has allowed the door to be shut. He cannot then see in, as the
grated opening has been closed, out of regard to Madame's sex. So this
morning I got Brigitte's consent to my plan, for the poor girl is the
softest-hearted creature in the world. And to make sure of finding you
immediately when I got out, I charged her to tell you to be in your room
at four o'clock."

"Which she did very adroitly."

"She is not such a fool as some take her for. Well, when she came to us
awhile ago, I transferred t