The superscription, "To Monsieur the General the Marquis de Prerolles,"
was inscribed in a long, English hand, elegant and regular. The orderly
gave the letter to his chief, who dismissed him with a gesture before
breaking the seal. The seal represented, without escutcheon or crown, a
small, wild animal, with a pointed muzzle, projecting teeth, and shaggy
body, under which was a word Henri expected to find: Zibeline!

The letter ran thus:

"MY DEAR GENERAL:

"An officer, like yourself, whose business it is to see that his
orders are obeyed, will understand that I have not dared, even in
your favor, to infringe on those imposed upon me by the doctor.
But those orders have been withdrawn! If you have nothing better to
do, come to-morrow, with your sister, to inspect our asylum, before
Monsieur Desvanneaux takes possession of it!

"Your military eye will be able to judge immediately whether
anything is lacking in the quarters. Yours affectionately,

"VALENTINE DE VERMONT.

"P.S.--Poor Seaman is dead! I beg you to carry this sad news to his
friend Aida. V."


If a woman's real self is revealed in her epistolary style, finesse,
good-humor, and sprightliness were characterised in this note.