Page:The Monk, A Romance - Lewis (1796, 1st ed., Volume 1).djvu/200

 "You are out of humour, mother; but that is no novelty. Have the goodness to follow me, monsieur."

He opened the door, and advanced towards a narrow stair-case.

"You have got no light," said Marguerite; "is it your own neck or the gentleman's that you have a mind to break?"

She crossed by me, and put a candle into Robert's hand; having received which, he began to ascend the stair-case. Jacques was employed in laying the cloth, and his back was turned towards me. Marguerite seized the moment when we were unobserved: she caught my hand, and pressed it strongly.

"Look at the sheets!" said she as she passed me, and immediately resumed her former occupation.

Startled by the abruptness of her action, I remained as if petrified. Robert's voice desiring me to follow him recalled me to myself. I ascended the stair-case. My conductor ushered me into a chamber where