The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas Chapter 55 Page 2

“What is this, madame?” he asked coldly.

“That? Nothing,” said Milady, smiling with that painful expression which she knew so well how to give to her smile. “Ennui is the mortal enemy of prisoners; I had ennui, and I amused myself with twisting that rope.”

Felton turned his eyes toward the part of the wall of the apartment before which he had found Milady standing in the armchair in which she was now seated, and over her head he perceived a gilt-headed screw, fixed in the wall for the purpose of hanging up clothes or weapons.

He started, and the prisoner saw that start — for though her eyes were cast down, nothing escaped her.

“What were you doing on that armchair?” asked he.