"There is someone hidden here, who seems to be asleep."
"It’s the—the ghost from the Tower—come to disturb my bliss."
"Oh! no, monsieur! it’s no ghost; but it may very well be a thief!—Go, monsieur, ring, call for help."
"I haven’t the strength to move, madame!"
"Bah! what a man you are!"
Cornélie ran to the door, opened it, and rushed from the room, calling for help. When Robineau found that he was alone by the bed, he recovered his strength and ran after his wife, adding his cries to hers.
At the sound of their outcries, those inmates of the château who were not asleep ran to the spot with lights; they were curious to know what caused the bride and groom to shriek so loud. Most of them were half dressed. They found Robineau as pale as death, and Cornélie in an undress in which there was nothing to inspire alarm.
"What’s the matter? what is it?" asked Alfred and Edouard; while Monsieur de la Pincerie, who was the last to appear, strode angrily to Robineau, saying:
"I would like to know why you cause my daughter to shriek like this on the first night after her wedding? I have been married myself; but my wife didn’t utter the faintest shriek!"
"Why, it isn’t I who made my wife shriek, father-in-law; on the contrary, I am shrieking with her!—But, bring weapons! arm yourselves, quick! there’s someone in our bed! I thought of the ghost, but my wife says that it may be a robber."