CHAPTER XVII.
The widow was alone in the room; standing by the bedside table on which Mr.Keller's night-drink was placed.

I was so completely taken by surprise, that I stood stock-still like a fool, and stared at Madame Fontaine in silence.
On her side she was, as I believe, equally astonished and equally confounded, but better able to conceal it.

For the moment, and only for the moment, she too had nothing to say.

Then she lifted her left hand from under her shawl.

"You have caught me, Mr.David!" she said--and held up a drawing-book as she spoke.
"What are you doing here ?" I asked.
She pointed with the book to the famous carved mantelpiece.
"You know how I longed to make a study of that glorious work," she answered.