ise ascended the terrace, and
penetrated, by the aid of another window, into the chamber where reposed
the object of his tender love. All this was accomplished with as little
noise as possible, in order to prevent the mischance of awakening the
marquis de l'Hopital, who was quietly asleep in an adjoining room.

One clear moonlight night, at the very instant when M. de Cressy
was about to step out of the window, in order to return to his own
apartment, a terrible crash of broken glass was heard. The terrified
chevalier sought the aid of his ladder, but it had disappeared. Not
knowing what to do, the chevalier returned to madame de l'Hopital, who,
seized with terror, had only just time to conceal him in her chamber,
when the marquis opened his window to ascertain the cause of all this
confusion. In an instant the alarm spread, and heads were popped out
of the different windows of the castle, each vieing with the other in
vociferating "Thieves! thieves! murder! fire!"

The unfortunate author of all this disturbance was the unlucky valet;
who, in his overeagerness to reach his Dulcinea, had attempted to climb
his ladder so nimbly, that it fell down, and, striking against the
windows of a room near which he had fixed it, had broken several panes
of glass. The poor valet never stopped to replace the ladder; but,
terrified as well as hurt by his rapid descent, scrambled off as well as
he could, abandoning his master in his present critical situation.

The ladder thrown down in the courtyard was abundant proof that some
audacious attempt had been made upon the lives and safety of the
inhabitants of the castle; and the general determination was to catch
the thieves: for, it was presumed, as no outlet for their escape was
discernible, that they must be concealed within its walls. The servants,
with their master at their head, were speedily assembled for the
purpose, when the absence of the chevalier de Cressy was observed. Where
could he be? was the general wonder. Was it possible that, amidst the
universal uproar with which the castle had resounded, he had slept so
soundly as to be yet unconscious of all this bustle? An over-officious
friend was upon the point of going to his chamber, to ascertain
the cause of his absenting himself at such a moment, when madame de
l'Hopital sent to request her husband would come to her immediately.
"Sir," said she, when they were alone, "the disturbance which has
thus broken our rest is not th