Page:Clermont - Roche (1798, volume 3).djvu/23

 but she is old, Mademoiselle, (proceeded Floretta, with a significant look) she is old, and that is the reason she cannot be animated like us."

"Poor Agatha!" exclaimed Madeline, who felt more attached than ever to the faithful creature, from finding she had feelings so congenial to her own.

She had now reached the chateau, and her heart palpitated with a fear of being discovered either by Monsieur D'Alembert, or some of his servants; but of this Floretta assured her there was no danger.

Through a private door in the rear of the castle, she led her up a flight of narrow stairs, seldom used, to the gallery, which was now gaily illumined by the lights that blazed in the hall: fearful of being discovered, Madeline hastened to the chamber, in which Floretta informed her she would find Agatha waiting to receive her; but ere she reached it, a shout of noisy laughter, ascended from