Nance was wondering whether she would have to watch all night. Her eyes ached with weariness rather than with the desire for sleep. The black boughs and foliage of the orchard trees swam into strange fantastic shapes under the moon.
It was then that she heard a vague stirring in the rooms below. Someone ran upstairs with a light patter of bare feet. In the hall voices spoke in undertones, making a vague murmuring.
Nance heard footsteps in the gallery. They stopped outside her door. Intuition warned her that it was De Rothan.
"Nance, I have good news for you."
She faltered by the window, keeping silence out of a feeling of mistrust.
"Nance, are you asleep? Come, I have good news."
She rose and crossed the room.
"What is it—what do you want?"
"Nance, I see that the game is up. They will starve us into surrender. I am going to send you out to make terms for me."
She thrilled.