After that, Elettra, unknown to Veronica, slept in the dressing-room every night.

After her mistress had gone to bed in the inner chamber, the woman used to lock the outer door softly and then draw a short, light sofa across it; on this she lay as best she might.

The nights were cold, after the fire had gone out, and she covered herself with a cloak of Veronica's.

In itself, it was no great hardship for a tough woman of the mountains, as she was.

But she slept little, for she feared something.