When Souchey left the room with the note, Nina went to the door and listened.

She heard him turn the lock below, and heard his step out in the courtyard, and listened till she knew that he was crossing the square.

Then she ran quickly up to her own room, put on her hat and her old worn cloak--the cloak which aunt Sophie had given her--and returned once more into the parlour.

She looked round the room with anxious eyes, and seeing her desk, she took the key from her pocket and put it into the lock.

Then there came a thought into her mind as to the papers; but she resolved that the thought need not arrest her, and she left the key in the lock with the papers untouched.