"Then you did not hear it?"—with a look of mingled relief and astonishment. "Well, I am glad of it. But you must sleep very soundly. You were the only person in the house who was not aroused."
"I sleep very soundly." She looked at him keenly, noting that his face was drawn and that his eyes were dull, showing that he had not slept. "I did not know there was anything wrong. Not here, I hope?"
"No, not here exactly; but it is a most horrible thing." He drew a pace nearer to her, dropping his voice so that the sharp little ears that were all eagerly listening should not catch the words. "A most horrible thing. A murder, Mademoiselle!"
"A murder?" repeated Alexia.
"Nothing less; and not a hundred yards away from this door."
Miss Boucheafen had leaned back, almost fallen, against the window-frame. She was so pale that he said hastily:
"I beg your pardon—I spoke too abruptly. I have frightened you."
"No, no; I am not frightened. Go on, pray! How was it? Who was it?"
"As to who it was—a man. As to how it was, he was stabbed to the heart," answered the Doctor shortly.
"And he was found dead, and brought here?"