In an effort to sleep, she turned on her side and drew the pillow over her face, but she continued to hear inexplicable noises. People seemed to be walking through the castle. Suddenly a wild hope filled her. Perhaps her father, having triumphed, had summoned her to join him. Perhaps René was the bearer of the good tidings. She raised herself on her elbow. No longer was there any question. Footsteps sounded through the vestibules, the antechambers, the salons; light gleamed under the door. Suddenly the lock was noisily forced and a lady in traveling costume, followed by two servants wearing the de Brezé livery, walked swiftly toward the bed. Amélie became speechless with amazement. Seated upright, she stared at the lady with wide eyes, who, in turn, fastened on the girl a hostile, terrible look. The two recognized each other. Amélie beheld again the arrogant faded beauty of the face so wonderfully like René's in feature and so different in expression. And the lady gazed again awestruck upon the facsimile of the countenance which in miniatures, pastels, oil-paintings, engravings, lithographs, snuff boxes, etc., was the object of compassionate adoration. The resemblance was at that moment so striking that the Duchess de Rousillon remained motionless, dominated by an involuntary reverence. Quickly recovering her sang froid, she said: "Leave the bed!" "Why are you here?" demanded Amélie. "Why have you forced an entrance into my room at such an hour?" The girl's indignation momentarily disconcerted the lady, but very soon she laughed disdainfully: "I might ask with what shadow of a right you have taken up quarters in my castle?" "This castle, madam, appertains to René de Giac, Marquis de Brezé." "I am his mother. I come in his name and with full authority from him. Rise at once if you have a sense of decency that we may talk in a suitable manner." "René has given you no authority," protested the girl. "My authority will soon be manifest," replied the Duchess. "Jean Vilon! Jean Vilon!" called Amélie. "Jean Vilon will not come. He is my slave. Do not become hysterical. And rise, I repeat. 'Twill be a pleasanter method than having my servants pull you out of bed." "In order that I should rise, madam, these servants must retire. I am not accustomed to dressing in the presence of men." The Duchess was constrained into making a signal. The liveried attendants placed the wax tapers on the mantel and left the apartment and Amélie deftly and modestly made a hasty toilet. Then she turned to the Duchess, saying: "Will you now be good enough to explain your conduct?" The Duchess advanced upon her in fury. "I dare say," she hissed, "that you can guess I have come to break the cords by which you hold my son,--you and that imposter, your father. The scales have at last dropped from René's eyes; he is disillusioned and repentant. He revealed to me your hiding place. In his name I come."