Her love itself was affliction enough to her.

This adventure was serious; a bullet might drop him; the law might remove him: so he would leave here at once.
He was about to open the window, when he heard a door shut below, and the thud of heavy steps outside the house.

Drawing back, he waited until he heard the foot of Elise upon the stair.

She came in without a light, and at first did not see him.

He heard her gasp.