t at my sentence. It was to surprise her
real feelings that she had been brought to hear, in my presence, my doom
pronounced; and my window had been obstructed that our confrontation
might be as sudden to me as to her, lest by a prepared look I might put
her on her guard. This it was that the Captain had suggested, and
excellently it had served. That moment's revelation of her heart, though
it brought such sweetness into my soul, could only make her fate worse
and my sentence irrevocable.

CHAPTER XI.

THE RAT-HOLE AND THE WATER-JUG

I had not been back in the little room a minute, when it occurred to me
to reach through the window and displace the obstruction. I was in time
to see the Countess escorted back across the court-yard by her husband.
This could mean only that she was again to occupy her prison in the
tower. I was glad at least to know where she was, that I might imagine
her in her surroundings, of which I had obtained so brief a glimpse.

Presently my door opened slightly, that my breakfast might be passed in
on a trencher; and again an hour later, that the trencher might be taken
out. Soon after that, the door was thrown wide, and a man of some
authority, whom I had already taken to be the seneschal of the chateau,
courteously requested me to step forth. When I did so, he told me my
lodging was ready and bade me follow. At my elbows were two powerful
armed servitors of this strange half-military household, to escort me.

I had a moment's hope that I might be taken to some chamber in the great
tower; I should thus be nearer the Countess. But such was not the
Count's will. I was conducted to the hall staircase, and up two flights,
thence along the corridor past my former sleeping chamber, and finally
by a small stairway to a sort of loft at that very corner of the chateau
against which the great tower was built.

It was a small chamber with one window and an unceiled roof that sloped
very low at the sides. I suppose it had been used as a store-room for
rubbish. Two worm-eaten chests were its only furniture. On one of these
were a basin, a jug of water, and a towel. On the other were a blanket,
a sheet, and a pillow. Here then were my bed and wash-stand. There was
still space left on the first chest to serve me as dining-table.

Before I could find anything to say upon these meagre accommodations for
a gentleman's last lodging in this world, the seneschal bade me
good-day, the door was closed an