aloud.

"Well, I have no parents!" said she.

"You are acquainted, without doubt, with the state of health
of M. le Comte de la Fere?" said Louise, after breathing
that sigh which had revealed so many griefs in its eloquent
utterance.

"No, mademoiselle," replied Raoul, "I have not yet paid my
respects to my father; I was going to his house when
Mademoiselle de Montalais so kindly stopped me. I hope the
comte is well. You have heard nothing to the contrary, have
you?"

"No, M. Raoul -- nothing, thank God!"

Here, for several instants, ensued a silence, during which
two spirits, which followed the same idea, communicated
perfectly, without even the assistance of a single glance.

"Oh, heavens!" exclaimed Montalais in a fright; "there is
somebody coming up."

"Who can it be?" said Louise, rising in great agitation.

"Mesdemoiselles, I inconvenience you very much. I have,
without doubt, been very indiscreet," stammered Raoul, very
ill at ease.