ten o'clock before
He could hear the sisters talking together in a low voice in the drawing-room , which he had never seen , at the top of the stairs . Then Desiree came down , and he helped her to find in a shed in the yard one of those travelling-trunks which he had recognized as being of French manufacture . He took off his boots , and carried it upstairs for her . It was ten o'clock before Sebastian came in . He nodded his thanks to Barlasch , and watched him bolt the door . He made no inquiry as to Mathilde , but extinguished the lamp , and went to his room . He never mentioned her name again .