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The night gradually drew on, and the foliage in the garden assu-place with a beating heart, and looked through the sate; there was yet no one to be seen The clock struck half-past eight, and still another half-hour was passed in waiting, while Morrel walked to and fro, and gazed arden became darker still, but in the darkness he looked in vain for the white dress, and in the silence he vainly listened for the sound of footsteps The house, which was discernible through the trees, reave no indication that so ie-contract was going on Morrel looked at his watch, which wanted a quarter to ten; but soon the same clock he had already heard strike two or three ti half-past nine

This was already half an hour past the ti e, the least whistling of the wind, attracted his attention, and drew the perspiration to his brow; then he trely fixed his ladder, and, not to lose a moment, placed his foot on the first step Amidst all these alternations of hope and fear, the clock struck ten "It is i of a contract should occupy so long a tihed all the chances, calculated the ti must have happened" And then he walked rapidly to and fro, and pressed his burning forehead against the fence Had Valentine fainted? or had she been discovered and stopped in her flight? These were the only obstacles which appeared possible to the youngto escape, and that she had fainted in one of the paths, was the one that most impressed itself upon his mind "In that case," said he, "I should lose her, and by my own fault" He dwelt on this idea for a ht he could perceive soround at a distance; he ventured to call, and it seemed to hih At last the half-hour struck It was ier, his te di over the wall, and in a moment leaped down on the other side He was on Villefort's preht be the consequences? However, he had not ventured thus far to draw back He followed a short distance close under the wall, then crossed a path, hid entered a cluh them, and could see the house distinctly Then Morrel saw that he had been right in believing that the house was not illuhts at every , as is custoray mass, which was veiled also by a cloud, which at that ht moved rapidly from time to time past three s of the second floor These three ere in Madame de Saint-Meran's room Another remained motionless behind some red curtains which were in Madauessed all this So ht at every hour in the day, had heseen it he knew it all