She had been deceived by Isabelle's remaining so long
perfectly quiet, and believed her asleep; but when she softly approached
the bed, to make sure that her victim's slumber had not been disturbed
by her own advent, an expression of extreme surprise was depicted on her
face, as she got a full view of the head lying upon the pillow and the
eyes fixed upon her in speechless terror. "The lady of the necklace!"
she exclaimed aloud. "Yes, the lady of the necklace!" putting one hand,
as she spoke, caressingly upon the string of pearl beads round her
little, thin, brown neck. Isabelle, for her part, though half dead with
fright, had recognised the little girl she had first seen at the Blue
Sun inn, and afterwards on the road to the Chateau de Bruyeres, in
company with Agostino, the brigand. She tried to cry out for help, but
the child put her hand quickly and firmly over her mouth.
"Don't scream," she said reassuringly, "nothing shall hurt you. Chiquita
promised that she would never kill nor harm the good, sweet lady, who
gave her the pearls that she meant to steal."
"But what have you come in here for, my poor child?" asked Isabelle,
gradually recovering her composure, but filled with surprise at this
strange intrusion.
"To open the great bolt on your door there that you are so careful to
close every night," answered Chiquita, in the most matter-of-fact way.
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