He saw her, and divined at once so much love and so much joy
in the expression of her countenance, that he sank on his
knees in the middle of the chamber, murmuring, on his part,
the name of Louise.

"Ah! Montalais -- Montalais!" she sighed, "it is very wicked
to deceive me so."

"Who, I? I have deceived you?"

"Yes; you told me you would go down to inquire the news, and
you have brought up monsieur!"

"Well, I was obliged to do so -- how else could he have
received the letter you wrote him?" And she pointed with her
finger to the letter which was still upon the table.

Raoul made a step to take it; Louise, more rapid, although
she had sprung forward with a sufficiently remarkable
physical hesitation, reached out her hand to stop him. Raoul
came in contact with that trembling hand, took it within his
own, and carried it so respectfully to his lips, that he
might be said to have deposited a sigh upon it rather than a
kiss.

In the meantime Mademoiselle de Montalais had taken the
letter, folded it carefully, as women do, in three folds,
and slipped it into her bosom.