"Bethink you that you are exhausted. If you go forth now, monsieur,
you will assuredly be taken. You must not go."
I laughed softly, and with some bitterness, too, for I was angry
with myself.
"Hush, child," I said. "Better so, if it is to be."
And with that I drew aside the curtains and pushed the leaves of the
window apart. She remained standing in the room, watching me, her
face pale, and hex eyes pained and puzzled.
One last glance I gave her as I bestrode the rail of her balcony.
Then I lowered myself as I had ascended. I was hanging by my hands,
seeking with my foot for the coping of the window beneath me, when,
suddenly, there came a buzzing in my ears. I had a fleeting vision
of a white figure leaning on the balcony above me; then a veil seemed
drawn over my eyes; there came a sense of falling; a rush as of a
tempestuous wind; then - nothing.
CHAPTER V
THE VICOMTE DE LAVEDAN
When next I awakened, it was to find myself abed in an elegant
apartment, spacious and sunlit, that was utterly strange to me.
For some seconds I was content to lie and take no count of my
whereabouts. My eyes travelled idly over the handsome furnishings
of that choicely appointed chamber, and rested at last upon the
lean, crooked figure of a man whose back was towards me and who
was busy with some phials at a table not far distant. Then
recollection awakened also in me, and I set my wits to work to
grapple with my surroundings.
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