that point bore traces of having been climbed over, and led to a round arbour formed of thick acacias. I made my way to the pine-tree, leaned my back against its trunk, and began my watch.

The night was as still as the night before, but there were fewer clouds in the sky, and the outlines of bushes, even of tall flowers, could be more distinctly seen. The first moments of expectation were oppressive, almost terrible. I had made up my mind to everything. I only debated how to act; whether to thunder, ‘Where goest thou? Stand! show thyself – or death!’ or simply to strike� . Every sound, every whisper and rustle, seemed to me portentous and extraordinary� . I prepared myself� . I bent forward� . But half-an-hour passed, an hour passed; my blood had grown quieter, colder; the consciousness that I was doing