Takingadvantageofthelastmomentsofdaylight,Irodecautiouslyroundthehouse,and,keepingintheshadowofthetrees,hadnodifficultyindiscoveringatthenorth-eastcornerthebalconyofwhichIhadbeentold.Itwassemi-circularinshape,withastonebalustrade,andhungsomefifteenfeetaboveaterracedwalkwhichranbelowit,andwasseparatedfromthechasebyalowsunkfence.
Iwassurprisedtoobservethat,notwithstandingtherainandthecoldnessoftheevening,thewindowwhichgaveuponthisbalconywasopen.Norwasthisall.Luckwasinstoreformeatlast.
Ihadnotgazedatthewindowmorethanaminute,calculatingitsheightandotherparticulars,when,tomygreatjoy,afemalefigure,closelyhooded,steppedoutandstoodlookingupatthesky.IwastoofarofftobeabletodiscernbythatuncertainlightwhetherthiswasMademoiselledelaVireorherwoman;buttheattitudewassoclearlyoneofdejectionanddespondency,thatIfeltsureitwaseitheroneortheother.Determinednottolettheopportunityslip,Idismountedhastilyand,leavingtheCidloose,advancedonfootuntilIstoodwithinhalf-a-dozenpacesofthewindow.
Atthatpointthewatcherbecameawareofme.Shestartedback,butdidnotwithdraw.Stillpeeringdownatme,shecalledsoftlytosomeoneinsidethechamber,andimmediatelyasecondfigure,tallerandstouter,appeared.Ihadalreadydoffedmycap,andInow,inalowvoice,beggedtoknowifIhadthehonourofspeakingtoMademoiselledelaVire.Inthegrowingdarknessitwasimpossibletodistinguishfaces.
\'Hush!\'thestouterfiguremutteredinatoneofwarning.\'Speaklower.Whoareyou,andwhatdoyouhere?\'