Page:Adventures of Susan Hopley (Volume 1).pdf/291

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276
SUSAN HOPLEY.

till morning, meditating plans of vengeance to be wreaked on her happy rival.

With the first dawn of light she arose. She felt an irresistible desire to return to the villa—to survey it by daylight—find out by whom it was inhabited, and perhaps detect Valentine in the very act of leaving it clandestinely. She dressed herself hastily, and having warned Madeleine not to be alarmed at her absence, she hurried along through the streets she had carefully marked the night before, and soon drew near the spot, where she did not doubt the man she loved was happy in the arms of her rival.

"The front of the house looked on the high road, the back into a garden; and on each side of the main door, there was a small door in the wall which led into it. One of these was locked, the other, which opened into a little alcove, was not, and she lifted the latch to take a peep at the garden, and to observe if there were any outlet on that side; but there was none. The garden was not large, but it was carefully cultivated, and surrounded by a wall of middling height. 'He must then come out by the front,' thought she; and she took up her position in the recess formed by the garden door that was locked, determined to await Valentine's