The pause
continued. The person without was irresolute and motionless.
Suddenly it occurred to me that Carwin might conceive me to have
fled. That I had not betaken myself to flight was, indeed, the
least probable of all conclusions. In this persuasion he must have
been confirmed on finding the lower door unfastened and the chamber
door locked. Was it not wise to foster this persuasion? Should I
maintain deep silence, this, in addition to other circumstances,
might encourage the belief, and he would once more depart. Every
new reflection added plausibility to this reasoning. It was
presently more strongly enforced when I noticed footsteps
withdrawing from the door. The blood once more flowed back to my
heart, and a dawn of exultation began to rise; but my joy was
short-lived. Instead of descending the stairs, he passed to the
door of the opposite chamber, opened it, and, having entered, shut
it after him with a violence that shook the house.
How was I to interpret this circumstance? For what end could he
have entered this chamber? Did the violence with which he closed
the door testify the depth of his vexation? This room was usually
occupied by Pleyel.
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