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Mistress。
The two new…comers were tall； stout； well…made young Men；
hard…featured； and very much sun…burnt。 They paid their
compliments to us in few words； and acknowledged Claude； who now
entered the room； as an old acquaintance。 They then threw aside
their cloaks in which they were wrapped up； took off a leathern
belt to which a large Cutlass was suspended； and each drawing a
brace of pistols from his girdle laid them upon a shelf。
'You travel well…armed；' said I。
'True； Monsieur；' replied Robert。 'We left Strasbourg late this
Evening； and 'tis necessary to take precautions at passing
through this Forest after dark。 It does not bear a good repute；
I promise you。'
'How？' said the Baroness； 'Are there Robbers hereabout？'
'So it is said； Madame； For my own part； I have travelled through
the wood at all hours； and never met with one of them。'
Here Marguerite returned。 Her Stepsons drew her to the other
end of the room； and whispered her for some minutes。 By the
looks which they cast towards us at intervals； I conjectured them
to be enquiring our business in the Cottage。
In the meanwhile the Baroness expressed her apprehensions； that
her Husband would be suffering much anxiety upon her account。
She had intended to send on one of her Servants to inform the
Baron of her delay； But the account which the young Men gave of
the Forest rendered this plan impracticable。 Claude relieved
her from her embarrassment。 He informed her that He was under
the necessity of reaching Strasbourg that night； and that would
She trust him with a letter； She might depend upon its being
safely delivered。
'And how comes it；' said I； 'that you are under no apprehension
of meeting these Robbers？'
'Alas！ Monsieur； a poor Man with a large family must not lose
certain profit because 'tis attended with a little danger； and
perhaps my Lord the Baron may give me a trifle for my pains。
Besides； I have nothing to lose except my life； and that will not
be worth the Robbers taking。'
I thought his arguments bad； and advised his waiting till the
Morning； But as the Baroness did not second me； I was obliged to
give up the point。 The Baroness Lindenberg； as I found
afterwards； had long been accustomed to sacrifice the interests
of others to her own； and her wish to send Claude to Strasbourg
blinded her to the danger of the undertaking。 Accordingly； it
was resolved that He should set out without delay。 The Baroness
wrote her letter to her Husband； and I sent a few lines to my
Banker； apprising him that I should not be at Strasbourg till the
next day。 Claude took our letters； and left the Cottage。
The Lady declared herself much fatigued by her journey： Besides
having come from some distance； the Drivers had contrived to lose
their way in the Forest。 She now addressed herself to
Marguerite； desiring to be shown to her chamber； and permitted to
take half an hour's repose。 One of the Waiting…women was
immediately summoned； She appeared with a light； and the Baroness
followed her up stairs。 The cloth was spreading in the chamber
where I was； and Marguerite soon gave me to understand that I
was in her way。 Her hints were too broad to be easily mistaken；
I therefore desired one of the young Men to conduct me to the
chamber where I was to sleep； and where I could remain till
supper was ready。
'Which chamber is it； Mother？' said Robert。
'The One with green hangings；' She replied； 'I have just been at
the trouble of getting it ready； and have put fresh sheets upon
the Bed； If the Gentleman chooses to lollop and lounge upon it；
He may make it again himself for me。'
'You are out of humour； Mother； but that is no novelty。 Have the
goodness to follow me； Monsieur。'
He opened the door； and advanced towards a narrow staircase。
'You have got no light！' said Marguerite； 'Is it your own neck or
the Gentleman's that you have a mind to break？'
She crossed by me； and put a candle into Robert's hand； having
received which； He began to ascend the staircase。 Jacques was
employed in laying the cloth； and his back was turned towards me。
Marguerite seized the moment； when we were unobserved。 She
caught my hand； and pressed it strongly。
'Look at the Sheets！' said She as She passed me； and immediately
resumed her former occupation。
Startled by the abruptness of her action； I remained as if
petrified。 Robert's voice； desiring me to follow him； recalled
me to myself。 I ascended the staircase。 My conductor ushered
me into a chamber； where an excellent wood…fire was blazing upon
the hearth。 He placed the light upon the Table； enquired whether
I had any further commands； and on my replying in the negative；
He left me to myself。 You may be certain that the moment when I
found myself alone was that on which I complied with Marguerite's
injunction。 I took the candle； hastily approached the Bed； and
turned down the Coverture。 What was my astonishment； my horror；
at finding the sheets crimsoned with blood！
At that moment a thousand confused ideas passed before my
imagination。 The Robbers who infested the Wood； Marguerite's
exclamation respecting her Children； the arms and appearance of
the two young Men； and the various Anecdotes which I had heard
related； respecting the secret correspondence which frequently
exists between Banditti and Postillions； all these circumstances
flashed upon my mind； and inspired me with doubt and
apprehension。 I ruminated on the most probable means of
ascertaining the truth of my conjectures。 Suddenly I was aware
of Someone below pacing hastily backwards and forwards。 Every
thing now appeared to me an object of suspicion。 With precaution
I drew near the window； which； as the room had been long shut up；
was left open in spite of the cold。 I ventured to look out。 The
beams of the Moon permitted me to distinguish a Man； whom I had
no difficulty to recognize for my Host。 I watched his movements。
He walked swiftly； then stopped； and seemed to listen： He
stamped upon the ground； and beat his stomach with his arms as if
to guard himself from the inclemency of the season。 At the least
noise； if a voice was heard in the lower part of the House； if a
Bat flitted past him； or the wind rattled amidst the leafless
boughs； He started； and looked round with anxiety。
'Plague take him！' said He at length with impatience； 'What can
He be about！'
He spoke in a low voice； but as He was just below my window； I
had no difficulty to distinguish his words。
I now heard the steps of one approaching。 Baptiste went towards
the sound； He joined a man； whom his low stature and the Horn
suspended from his neck； declared to be no other than my faithful
Claude； whom I had supposed to be already on his way to
Strasbourg。 Expecting their discourse to throw some light upon
my situation； I hastened to put myself in a condition to hear it
with safety。 For this purpose I extinguished the candle； which
stood upon a table near the Bed： The flame of the fire was not
strong enough to betray me； and I immediately resumed my place at
the window。
The objects of my curiosity had stationed themselves directly
under it。 I