'Cheerfully would I lay down my
life for you!'
'And why can I not return in any way your devoted attachment, my poor
Margaret?'
At this instant, two loud and hurried knocks at the door startled them
both from their seats, and it was with a trembling hand Margaret
opened it to admit the old porter, and a servant with a letter in his
hand.
'Thank you, thank you, M. Thiebaut: this letter is for my mistress.'
But the inquisitive old man either did not or would not understand
Margaret's hint to him to retire, and Madame de Vatteville was obliged
to tell him to leave the room.
'Not a penny to bless herself with, though she has come to a better
apartment!' muttered he, enraged at the disappointment to his
curiosity--'and yet as proud as an aristocrat!'
The abbess approached the casement, broke the seal with trembling
hand, and read as follows:--
'I have at length been able to treat with a merchant for the
article in question, and have, after much difficulty,
obtained a sum of 25,000 francs--far beyond anything I could
have hoped.
Pages:
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59