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At the foot of the staircase Tignonville paused The droning Noruard issued froht a jest, the coarse chuckling laughter which

attended it, and the gurgle of applause which followed; and he knew that

at any ht step out and discover him Fortunately

the door of the room with the shattered as alht side of the passage, and he stepped softly to it

He stood an instant hesitating, his hand on the latch; then, alarmed by a

, he pushed the door in

a panic, slid into the room, and shut the door behind him He was safe,

and he had made no noise; but at the table, at supper, with his back to

him and his face to the partly closed , sat Count Hannibal!

The young azed at the

Count's back, spellbound and unable to stir Then, as Tavannes ate on

without looking round, he began to take courage Possibly he had entered

so quietly that he had not been heard, or possibly his entrance was taken

for that of a servant In either case, there was a chance that he ht

retire after the same fashion; and he had actually raised the latch, and

was drawing the door to him with infinite precaution, when Tavannes'