Withthelastwordhefellonhiskneesonthestepbeforethewindow,andburstintosuchanagonyofunmanlytearsandsobbingsasIhadneverdreamedoforimagined,andleastofallintheKingofFrance.Hardlyknowingwhethertobemoreashamedorterrified,Iturnedatallrisks,andstealthilyliftingthecurtain,creptoutwithinfinitecare;andhappilywithsomuchgoodfortuneastoescapedetection.Therewasspaceenoughbetweenthetwocurtainstoadmitmybodyandnomore;andhereI
stoodashortwhiletocollectmythoughts.Then,strikingmyscabbardagainstthewall,asthoughbyaccident,andcoughingloudlyatthesamemoment,Itwitchedthecurtainasidewithsomeviolenceandre-entered,thinkingthatbythesemeansIhadgivenhimwarningenough.
ButIhadnotreckonedonthedarknessinwhichtheroomlay,ortheexcitablestateinwhichIhadlefthim.Heheardme,indeed,butbeingabletoseeonlyatall,indistinctfigureapproachinghim,hetookfright,andfallingbackagainstthemoonlitwindow,asthoughhesawaghost,thrustouthishand,gaspingatthesametimetwowords,whichsoundedtomelike\'Ha!
Guise!\'
Thenextinstant,discerningthatIfellonmykneewhereI