"The words of M. Bastien which you have reported to me prove nothing, Marguerite; you are, I think, needlessly alarmed." "God grant it, madame." "Go and see, I pray you, if M. Bastien and M. Bridou are still at the table. If they have left it, you can go to bed, I have no further need of you." Marguerite returned in a few moments, and said to her mistress: "I have just given a light to monsieur and to M. Bridou, madame, they bade each other good night; but, wait, madame," said Marguerite, interrupting herself, "do you hear? that is M. Bridou now going up-stairs." In fact the steps of Bastien's boon companion resounded over the wooden staircase which conducted to the chamber formerly occupied by David. "Has M. Bastien entered his chamber?" asked Marie of the servant. "I can see from the outside if there is a light in monsieur's chamber," replied Marguerite. The servant went out again, returned in a few moments, and said to her mistress, as she shivered with the cold: "Monsieur is in his chamber, madame; I can see the light through the blinds. My God, how bitter the cold is; it is snowing in great heaps, and I forgot to make your fire, madame. Perhaps you wish to sit up." "No, Marguerite, thank you, I am going to bed immediately." Marie added, after a moment's reflection: "My shutters are closed, are they not?" "Yes, madame." "And those of my son's chamber also?" "Yes, madame." "Good night, Marguerite, come to me to-morrow at the break of day." "Madame has need of nothing else?" "No, thank you." "Good night, madame." Marguerite went out. Marie locked her door, went to see if her shutters were closed, and slowly undressed, a prey to the most poignant anxiety, thinking of the various events of the evening, the mysterious words uttered by the bailiff, Bridou on the subject of Frederick, and especially of those words which passed between Jacques and his friend, which Marguerite had overheard: "Jacques, you will not do that?" "You will see." The young woman, wrapped in her dressing-gown, prepared as usual to embrace her son before going to bed, when she heard heavy walking in the corridor which opened into her apartment. No doubt it was the step of Jacques Bastien. Marie listened. The steps discontinued. Soon the sound of this heavy walking was succeeded by the noise of two hands, outside the door, groping in the darkness for the lock and key. Jacques Bastien wished to enter his wife's apartment.