'
'I am in no hurry,' said Simon, almost bewildered by the possession of
such a treasure. 'I may as well wait for some such occasion, and in
the meantime can make any necessary advances to the abbess. Perhaps I
may call on you again.'
The first day of the year 1795 had just dawned, and there was a thick
and chilling fog. The abbess and her faithful servant felt this day
more than usually depressed, for fifteen months had now elapsed since
the 1500 francs had been received for the ruby, and there now remained
provision only for a few days longer. 'I have got no answer from M.
Simon,' said the abbess; and in giving utterance to her own thought,
she was replying to what was at that moment passing through Margaret's
mind. 'I fear he has not been able to get more for the ruby than he
thinks fair interest for the money he advanced to me.'
'It is most likely,' said Margaret; and both relapsed into their
former desponding silence.
'What a dreary New-Year's Day!' resumed Madame de Vatteville, in a
melancholy tone.
'Oh, why can I not help you, dear mistress?' exclaimed Margaret,
suddenly starting from her reverie.
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