Supposing that Simon had taken her upstairs, I mounted quickly, not doubting I should find her there.

Judge of my surprise and dismay when I found that room also empty, save for the lackey whom M.de Rambouillet had lent me! 'Where are they ?' I asked the man, speaking sharply, and standing with my hand on the door.
'The lady and her woman, sir ?' he answered, coming forward.
'Yes, yes!' I cried impatiently, a sudden fear at my heart.
She went out immediately after her arrival with Simon Fleix, sir, and has not yet returned,' he answered.
The words were scarcely out of his mouth before I heard several persons enter the passage below and begin to ascend the stairs.

I did not; doubt that mademoiselle and the lad had come home another way and, been somehow detained; and I turned with a sigh of relief to receive them.
But when the persons whose steps I had heard appeared, they proved to be only M.de Rosny's equerry, stout, burly, and bright-eyed as ever, and two armed servants..