a voice which prayed as one prays who is in deadly fear. The
boards must have made a creaking. There was a sharp exclamation
of surprise.

"Courage, friend, courage!" I cried. "All is not lost.

Keep a stout heart, for Etienne Gerard is by your side."

"Etienne!" It was a woman's voice which spoke--a voice which was
always music to my ears. I sprang through the gap and I flung my
arms round her.

"Lucia! Lucia!" I cried.

It was "Etienne!" and "Lucia!" for some minutes, for one does not
make speeches at moments like that. It was she who came to her
senses first.

"Oh, Etienne, they will kill you. How came you into their
hands?"

"In answer to your letter."

"I wrote no letter."

"The cunning demons! But you?"

"I came also in answer to your letter."

"Lucia, I wrote no letter."