But suddenly Ernestine paused in the middle of a sentence, and, turning her head in the direction of Madame Laîné's room, seemed to listen attentively.
"What is the matter, Ernestine?" inquired Herminie.
"Nothing, my dear, nothing," replied Mlle. de Beaumesnil, "I was mistaken, of course."
"But what was it?"
"It seemed to me I heard a sound in Madame Laîné's room."
"What a timid little thing you are!" said Herminie. "It was probably some outside shutter rattling in the wind you heard and—"
But Herminie, making a sudden movement of surprise in her turn, quickly turned her head towards the door that separated Ernestine's bedroom from the adjoining parlour, and said:
"How strange, Ernestine! Did you notice—?"
"That some one turned the key in that door."
Without replying, Herminie ran to the door and turned the knob.