You may judge, what must have been my feelings during this conversation, of which I lost not a single syllable. I dared not trust myself to my reflections, nor did any means present itself to escape the dangers which threatened me. Resistance, I knew to be vain; I was unarmed, and a single man against three: however, I resolved at least to sell my life as dearly as I could. Dreading lest Baptiste should perceive my absence, and suspect me to have overheard the message with which Claude was dispatched, I hastily relighted my candle and quitted the chamber. On descending, I found the table spread for six persons. The Baroness sat by the fireside: Marguerite was employed in dressing a salad, and her stepsons were whispering together at the further end of the room. Baptiste having the round of the garden to make, ere he could reach the cottage door, was not yet arrived. I seated myself quietly opposite to the Baroness.