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Count Hannibal waited roups

reave the word to dismount; for, so far,

even the Countess and her women had kept their saddles, lest the movement

which their retreat into the inn must have caused should be misread by

thebefore

hi his cloak and pistols, he

escorted the Countess into the house Not many minutes had elapsed since

he had called for silence; but long before he reached the cha

over the square fro set for

theers that

for this night the danger was past The hawk had coers, and lo!

it was a dove

Count Hannibal strode to one of the open s and looked out In the

roo to and fro,

setting out the table; to Mada beside the hearth--which held

its suhs--while her woman held water for her

to wash, the scene recalled with painful vividness theof the St Bartholomew--the meal which

had ushered in her troubles Naturally her eyes went to her husband, her

mind to the horror in which she had held him then; and with a kind of