"Why did that mysterious woman go to Beaumanoir and place herself in
the path of Angelique des Meloises?" exclaimed she angrily. "Why
did Bigot reject my earnest prayer, for it was earnest, for a lettre
de cachet to send her unharmed away out of New France?"
Then Angelique sat and listened without moving for a long time. The
clock ticked loud and warningly. There was a sighing of the wind
about the windows, as if it sought admittance to reason and
remonstrate with her. A cricket sang his monotonous song on the
hearth. In the wainscot of the room a deathwatch ticked its doleful
omen. The dog in the courtyard howled plaintively as the hour of
midnight sounded upon the Convent bell, close by. The bell had
scarcely ceased ere she was startled by a slight creaking like the
opening of a door, followed by a whispering and the rustle of a
woman's garments, as of one approaching with cautious steps up the
stair. A thrill of expectation, not unmingled with fear, shot
through the breast of Angelique. She sprang up, exclaiming to
herself, "She is come, and all the demons that wait on murder
come with her into my chamber!" A knock followed on the door.
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