he explored further and satisfied himself that there were
no human beings, except the occupants of the tower, living on these
rocks. He retired to his hiding-place to rest; before dawn he again
ascended and concealed himself among the bracken and brambles which
formed the only available shelter. During the whole day he saw but one
person, an elderly woman, whose dark features and bright kerchief showed
her to be of southern or gipsy origin, and who passed backwards and
forwards carrying water to the tower. His examination increased his
confidence; he calculated, by measuring the time occupied by the old
woman in passing with an empty and returning with a full pitcher, that
the spring frequented by her could not be far distant; at night he
found it just beyond the junction of the rocks with the mainland. The
water was cool and fresh, and considerably revived him; he noticed too
that the luxuriant brushwood, nourished by the moisture, offered a good
place for concealment; he returned, removed thither what remained of his
provisions, and ensconced himself in his new retreat.

In the morning he saw two figures approaching from the tower; one was
the same servant he had seen before, but the other!--his heart throbbed
and leaped, his brain reeled, his eyes gazed hungrily; he could not be,
he was not, mistaken!--the second figure was the heroine of his dreams!
She walked silently. Jean saw that memory had not played him false: her
beauty, her grace, were no freak of his imagination; would the holy
father now say that she was a devil, while thus she moved in her
loveliness, a woman to be loved and worshipped!--a very woman, too! not
above the cares of life! Seating herself by the spring she despatched
her companion on an errand to supply domestic wants, promising to await
her return.

Jean's principal characteristic was rapid resolution: he reasoned that a
small alarm might make the girl fly; that his chance of retaining her
was an overpowering shock. He stepped boldly out and stood before her.
The maiden sprang quickly to her feet; there was no terror in her face;
she was of true blood; if she was afraid she did not show it; it was
clear she recognized the apparition, but intense surprise, overpowering
other emotions, kept her dumb. Jean had thus the chance of speaking
first, and deftly he used his opportunity. In a few rapid sentences he
told the tale of his search, of his adventures, of his selection of his
hiding-place; t