At Tours and Orleans they
stopped to give a few representations, which were eminently successful,
and very satisfactory to the troupe as well as the public. No attempt
being made to molest them in any way, Blazius after a time forgot his
fears, which had been excited by the vindictive character of the Duke of
Vallombreuse, but Isabelle could not banish from her memory the wicked
plot to abduct her, and many times saw again in her dreams Chiquita's
wild, weird face, with the long, tangled elf-locks hanging around it,
just as it had appeared to her that dreadful night at the Armes de
Frame, glaring at her with fierce, wolfish eyes. Then she would start
up, sobbing and trembling, in violent agitation, and it required the
most tender soothing from her companion, Zerbine, whose room she had
shared ever since they quitted Poitiers, to quiet and reassure her. The
soubrette, thoroughly enamoured of Isabelle as of old, was devoted to
her, and took great delight in watching over and ministering to her;
an own sister could not have been kinder or more affectionately
considerate.
The only evidence that de Sigognac gave of the anxiety which he
secretly felt, was his always insisting upon occupying the room nearest
Isabelle's, and he used to lie down in his clothes, with his drawn sword
on the bed beside him, so as to be ready in case of any sudden alarm.
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