the uncovered stairs, when the dwarf arrested her by a cry.

"Go back, heavy-foot,--go back and fetch me my clavier."

"Mademoiselle the nightingale has suddenly returned," muttered Zélie,
ill pleased.

"Am I not always here when my lady comes home? I demand the box wherein
my instrument is kept."

"What doth your instrument concern me? Madame has sent me to dress the
baby."

"Will you bring my clavier?"

The dwarf's scream was like the weird high note of a wind-harp. It had
its effect on Zélie. She turned back, though muttering against the
overruling of her lady's commands by a creature like a bat, who could
probably send other powers than a decent maid to bring claviers.

"And where shall I find it?" she inquired aloud. "Here have I been in
the fortress scarce half an hour, after all but shipwreck, and I must
search out the belongings of people who do naught but idle."

"Find it where you will. No one hath the key but myself. The box may
stand in Madame Marie's apartment, or it may be in my own chamber. Such
matters are blown out of my head by the wind along the coast. Make
haste to fetch it so I can play when Madame Marie appears."

Le Rossignol drew herself up the back of the settle, and perched at ease