Lord Uplandtowers' eye fell upon the
newly-painted door where the recess had formerly been.
'You have been carpentering in my absence then, Barbara,' he said
carelessly.
'Yes, Uplandtowers.'
'Why did you go putting up such a tasteless enclosure as that--
spoiling the handsome arch of the alcove?'
'I wanted more closet-room; and I thought that as this was my own
apartment--'
'Of course,' he returned. Lord Uplandtowers knew now where the
statue of young Willowes was.
One night, or rather in the smallest hours of the morning, he missed
the Countess from his side. Not being a man of nervous imaginings
he fell asleep again before he had much considered the matter, and
the next morning had forgotten the incident. But a few nights later
the same circumstances occurred. This time he fully roused himself;
but before he had moved to search for her, she entered the chamber
in her dressing-gown, carrying a candle, which she extinguished as
she approached, deeming him asleep. He could discover from her
breathing that she was strangely moved; but not on this occasion
either did he reveal that he had seen her. Presently, when she had
lain down, affecting to wake, he asked her some trivial questions.
'Yes, EDMOND,' she replied absently.
Lord Uplandtowers became convinced that she was in the habit of
leaving the chamber in this queer way more frequently than he had
observed, and he determined to watch.
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