Having taken these
precautions, she closed her eyes, and hoped that she could for a while
forget her troubles in sleep; but she had been so much excited and
agitated that her nerves were all quivering, and it was long before she
even grew drowsy. There were so many strange, incomprehensible noises in
the great, empty house to disturb and startle her; and in her own room,
the cracking of the furniture, the ticking of a death-watch in the wall
near her bed, the gnawing of a rat behind the wainscot, the snapping of
the fire. At each fresh sound she started up in terror, with her
poor heart throbbing as if it would burst out of her breast, a cold
perspiration breaking out on her forehead, and trembling in every limb.
At last, however, weary nature had to succumb, and she fell into a deep
sleep, which lasted until she was awakened by the sun shining on her
face. Her first thought was to wonder that she had not yet seen the Duke
of Vallombreuse; but she was thankful for his absence, and hoped that
it would continue until Chiquita should have brought de Sigognac to the
rescue.
The reason why the young duke had not yet made his appearance was one of
policy. He had taken especial pains to show himself at Saint Germain on
the day of the abduction--had joined the royal hunting party, and
been exceedingly and unwontedly affable to all who happened to come
in contact with him.
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