My dear lady was apparently also very deeply perturbed; any attempt on my part to broach the subject of Miss de Genneville’s will was promptly and authoritatively checked by her. At the same time I knew her well enough to guess that all these nameless dangers which seemed to have crept up round her only served to enhance her determination to carry out her old friend’s dying wishes to the letter. We went to bed quite early; for the first time without that delightful final gossip, when events, plans, surmises and work were freely discussed between us. The unseen lady visitor in the room which separated us acted as a wet blanket on our intimacy. I stayed with Lady Molly until she was in bed. She hardly talked to me whilst she undressed, but when I kissed her “good-night” she whispered almost inaudibly right into my ear: “The Terhoven faction are at work. They may waylay you and offer you a bribe to keep me out of the château to-morrow. Pretend to fall in with their views. Accept all bribes and place yourself at their disposal. I must not say more now. We are being spied upon.” That my lady was, as usual, right in her surmises was proved within the next five minutes. I had slipped out of her room, and was just going into mine, when I heard my name spoken hardly above a whisper, whilst I felt my arm gently seized from behind. An elderly, somewhat florid, woman stood before me attired in a dingy-coloured dressing-gown. She was pointing towards my own bedroom door, implying her desire to accompany me to my room. Remembering my dear lady’s parting injunctions, I nodded in acquiescence. She followed me, after having peered cautiously up and down the passage. Then, when the door was duly closed, and she was satisfied that we were alone, she said very abruptly: “Miss Granard, tell me! you are poor, eh?--a paid companion to your rich friend, what?” Still thinking of Lady Molly’s commands, I replied with a pathetic sigh. “Then,” said the old lady, eagerly, “would you like to earn fifty thousand francs?” The eagerness with which I responded “Rather!” apparently pleased her, for she gave a sigh of satisfaction. “You know the story of my sister’s will--of the clock?” she asked eagerly: “of your friend’s _rôle_ in this shameless business?” Once more I nodded. I knew that my lady had guessed rightly. This was the Marquise de Terhoven, planted here in the convent to gain my confidence, to spy on Lady Molly, and to offer me a bribe. Now for some clever tactics on my part. “Can you prevent your friend from being at the château to-morrow before one o’clock?” asked the Marquise. “Easily,” I replied calmly. “How?” “She is ill, as you know. The doctor has ordered her a sleeping draught. I administer it. I can arrange that she has a strong dose in the morning instead of her other medicine. She will sleep till the late afternoon.” I rattled this off glibly in my best French. Madame la Marquise heaved a deep sigh of relief.