It came into the park at the stroke of midnight and glided stealthily through the trees; it appeared to him to pass through the trunks of the trees.

Twice he had seen it from his window, by the light of the moon and had risen and followed the strange apparition.

The night before last he had almost overtaken it; but it had vanished at the corner of the donjon.

Last night, however, he had not left the chateau, his mind being disturbed by a presentiment that some new crime would be attempted.

Suddenly he saw the black phantom rush out from somewhere in the middle of the court.