Putting her lips to the key-hole, she said, in a low, appealing tone: 

“Oh! can you speak English, French, or German?  Pray answer me.”

She thought she had never heard sweeter music than when the clear, gentle voice of a woman replied: 

“I can speak English, but no other language.”

“Oh!  I am so glad!” almost sobbed Mona.  “Please put your ear close to the key-hole, and let me tell you something.  I dare not talk loud for fear of being overheard.  I am a young girl, a little more than eighteen years old, and I am in a fearful extremity.  Will you help me?”

“Certainly, if you are in need of help,” returned the other voice.

“Oh, thank you! thank you!” cried Mona, and then in low, rapid tones she briefly told her story to the listener on the other side of the door.

When she had concluded, the woman said, wonderingly: 

“It is the most dreadful thing I ever heard of.  My brother, with whom I am traveling, will soon be back.  We are to leave early in the morning, and he has gone down to the office to settle our bill and make necessary arrangements.  I will tell him your story, and we will see what can be done for you.”

Mona again thanked her, but brokenly, and then overcome by this unexpected succor she sank prone upon the floor weeping passionately; the tension on her nerves had given way and her overwrought feelings had to have their way.

Presently a hand touched the key in her door.

Startled beyond measure, she sprang to it, feeling sure that Louis Hamblin stood without.

“Do not dare to open this door,” she cried, authoritatively.

“Certainly not; I simply wished to ask if you have everything you wish for the night,” the young man returned, in perfectly courteous tones.

“Yes.”

“Very well, then; good-night.  I hope you will rest well,” he said, then drawing the key from the lock, he passed on, and the next moment Mona heard a door shut across the hall.

It was scarcely five minutes later when she heard some one enter the room next to hers, and her heart leaped again with hope.

Then she heard a gentleman and lady conversing in low tones, and knew that her story was being repeated to one who had the power, if he chose to use it, to save her from her persecutor.

A little later she heard the gentleman go to a window and open it.

Then there came a gentle tap upon the door, and the lady said to the eager ear at the key-hole: 

“There is a little balcony outside our window and another outside yours with only a narrow space between.  My brother says if you will go out upon yours he will help you across to us, then we can talk more freely together, and decide upon the best way to help you.  Turn down your light first, however, so that no one outside will see you.”

“Yes, yes,” breathed Mona, eagerly, and then putting out her light, she sprang away to the window.