in consternation, so very evident was it, that he left so suddenly
in order to conceal the painful impression which Jacques's letter had
produced upon him.

"Certainly," said M. de Chandore, "we will write to him; but we might
just as well whistle. He will wait for the end of the investigation."

"Who knows?" murmured Dionysia.

And, after a moment's reflection, she added,--

"We can try, however."

And, without vouchsafing any further explanation, she left the room, and
hastened to her chamber to write the following letter:--

"I must speak to you. There is a little gate in our garden which opens
upon Charity Lane, I will wait for you there. However late it may be
when you get these lines, come!

"DIONYSIA."

Then having put the note into an envelope, she called the old nurse,
who had brought her up, and, with all the recommendations which extreme
prudence could suggest, she said to her,--

"You must see to it that M. Mechinet the clerk gets this note to-night.
Go! make haste!"