Devanne had brought from
Dieppe with his other visitors.
Immediately he extinguished his lantern, and had scarcely gained
the friendly shelter of a window-embrasure, when the door at the
top of the stairway was opened and a feeble light illuminated the
gallery. He could feel--for, concealed by a curtain, he could not
see--that a woman was cautiously descending the upper steps of the
stairs. He hoped she would come no closer. Yet, she continued to
descend, and even advanced some distance into the room. Then she
uttered a faint cry. No doubt she had discovered the broken and
dismantled cabinet.
She advanced again. Now he could smell the perfume, and hear the
throbbing of her heart as she drew closer to the window where he
was concealed. She passed so close that her skirt brushed against
the window-curtain, and Lupin felt that she suspected the presence
of another, behind her, in the shadow, within reach of her hand.
He thought: "She is afraid. She will go away." But she did not
go. The candle, that she carried in her trembling hand, grew
brighter. She turned, hesitated a moment, appeared to listen, then
suddenly drew aside the curtain.
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