She became motionless, dumb. He left her then, from a feeling of compassion, and returned to his seat. They remained for some time seated in this way, one on each side of the fireplace; he, with his head leaning against the mantel; she, crouched in her chair with her face concealed behind her hands; only the striking of the clock interrupted this silence and lulled their gloomy thoughts with its monotonous vibrations.
A sharp, quick sound against one of the windows interrupted this sad scene. Clemence arose suddenly as if she had received a galvanic shock; her frightened eyes met her husband’s. He made an imperious gesture with his hand as if to order silence, and both listened attentively and anxiously.
The same noise was heard a second time. A rattling against the blinds was followed by a dry, metallic sound, evidently caused by the contact of some body against the window.
“It is some signal,” said Christian in a low voice, as he looked at his wife. “You probably know what it means.”
“I do not, I swear to you,” replied Clemence, her heart throbbing with a new emotion.
“I will tell you, then; he is there and he has something to say to you. Rise and open the window.”
“Open the window?” said she, with a frightened look.
“Do what I tell you. Do you wish him to pass the night under your window, so that the servants may see him?”
At this command, spoken in a severe tone, she arose. Noticing that their shadows might be seen from the outside when the curtains were drawn, Bergenheim changed the candles to another place. Clemence walked slowly toward the window; she had hardly opened it, when a purse fell upon the floor.
“Close it now,” said the Baron. While his wife was quietly obeying, he picked up the purse, and opening it, took the following note from it: