Alice started when she recognized the midnight intruder, and a
second deeper look into his countenance made her brave heart
recoil, while with a sinking sensation her breath almost stopped.
It was but a momentary weakness, however, followed by vigorous
reaction.
"What are you here for, sir?" she demanded. "What do you want?"
"I am neither a burglar nor a murderer, Mademoiselle," he
responded, lifting his hat and bowing, with a smile not in the
least reassuring.
"You look like both. Stop where you are!"
"Not so loud, my dear Miss Roussillon; I am not deaf. And besides
the garrison needs to sleep."
"Stop, sir; not another step."
She poised herself, leaning slightly backward, and held the iron
ball in her right hand ready to throw it at him.
He halted, still smiling villainously.
"Mademoiselle, I assure you that your excitement is quite
unnecessary. I am not here to harm you."
"You cannot harm me, you cowardly wretch!"
"Humph! Pride goes before a fall, wench," he retorted, taking a
half-step backward. Then a thought arose in his mind which added a
new shade to the repellent darkness of his countenance.
"Miss Roussillon," he said in English and with a changed voice,
which seemed to grow harder, each word deliberately emphasized, "I
have come to break some bad news to you."
"You would scarcely bring me good news, sir, and I am not curious
to hear the bad.
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