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V

In the Queen’s Palace

Nichette scampered over the drawbridge and across the lawn to the little turret door. It was a relief to be out of sight of those staring window­ eyes in the palace walls,—she hoped no one had seen her. She knew just which key to choose for the turret door and it opened easily. It was fortunate that she had learned the way so well by listening to Pierre; for it was dark inside, Nichette had not expected that! She could scarcely see the stairs which wound dizzily up and up like a twisted ladder.

But bravely she began to climb, counting the steps as she went,—“thirty-three, thirty-four, thirty-five.” Evidently these stairs were seldom

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