She saw a bright
light issuing from a couple of windows in the mansion of the Duke of
Vallombreuse--doubtless in the room where the wounded young nobleman
lay--but the garden and the little alley beneath her seemed absolutely
deserted. In a moment, however, she caught a low whisper from the
latter, not intended for her ears, which said, "She has not gone to
bed yet." She softly leaned out of her window--the room within was
not lighted, so she could not be seen--and peering anxiously into the
darkness thought she could distinguish two cloaked figures lurking in
the alley, and farther away, near one end of it, a third one, apparently
on the watch. They seemed to feel that they were observed, and all three
presently slunk away and vanished, leaving Isabelle half in doubt as to
whether they were the creatures of her excited imagination, or had been
real men prowling there. Tired at last of watching, without hearing or
seeing anything more, she withdrew from the window, closed and secured
it softly, procured a light, saw that the great, clumsy bolt on her door
was property adjusted, and made her preparations for bed; lying down at
last and trying to sleep, for she was very tired, but haunted by
vague fears and doubts that made her anxious and uneasy.
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