"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 have been 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.

"Don't be afraid, Louise," said she; "monsieur will no more venture to
take it hence than the defunct king Louis XIII. ventured to take billets
from the corsage of Mademoiselle de Hautefort."

Raoul blushed at seeing the smile of the two girls; and he did not remark
that the hand of Louise remained in his.

"There!" said Montalais, "you have pardoned me, Louise, for having