He had been sitting at his ease in an armchair, over the back of which he had tossed the baldric from which his sword depended.

The clang of the heavy door below, striking the wall as it was pushed open, had reached his ears.
"Can it be time already ?" asked mademoiselle; yet a panic took her, and she blenched a little.
He shook his head.
"Impossible," said he; "it is not more than ten o'clock.

Unless that fool Arsenio has blundered--" He stopped.

"Sh!" he whispered.

"Some one is coming here." And suddenly he realized the peril that might lie in being found thus in her company.