ched the desk, in an agitated m

Sarah, was exasperated at the suspicions of Robert. Besides, the duchess was so modestly dressed, that the notary saw no rea

eal her face under the folds of her veil, "Sir, can o

o me, madame, but I must se

essary. I know that you ar

o; there is some one the

sir. One of my friends-of my

s n

ston de S

duchess an inquisitive and searching g

my has told me

id he t

ll

at did

know

hings about M.

, a terrib

terrible things abo

d me truly-you a

d of confessing it, you ought to blush. Do you come here to weep, to soften me? It is useless

e duchess. She drew herself up, threw her veil back, and with a proud look

sing, that the notary, overcome, charmed, fell back astonished; too

age, with a pale face, appearing slightly fatigued; but she had large sparkling brown eyes, splendid black hair, a fine arched nose, a proud and

ost kneeled before him, inspired such love in this grand lady, that she risked a step which might ruin her. At these thoughts the notary felt his audacity, which for a moment was paralyzed, restored. Hatred, envy, a kind of burning, savage resentment kindled in his looks, on his forehead, and his cheeks-the most shameful and wicked passions. Seeing Madame de Lucenay on the point of commencing a conversation so delicate, he expected on her part some turnings, expedients. What was his surprise! She spoke to him with as much a

me the embarrassing situation in which he finds himself, from the inconvenience of a double piece of villainy of which he

unded with this cavalier and delibe

cs," answered he, as soon as he h

d francs; and you will send at once

ndred thousand fr

ou that you shoul

ore noon, madame; otherwise a co

ll be accountable for it; as

me, it is

t a notary like you cannot procure

security,

at mean? Expl

nswerable for t

, ma

ing eighty thousand livres rent, at four leagues from Paris? T

, by means o

? Some formality, doubtles

nder two weeks, and it needs the

, mine-mine alone," said

wer of your husband, and a deed of mo

believe that it so difficult to procure

own notary, to your steward

Lucenay, heartily. "You know the rogues who wish to rob M.

ly honors me, madame; but

not this

sum in bank bills, or in g

s it my signature you wish? I

e, that you are the

l de Lucenay, sir: I will sign at h

grace si

understand

lone is of no val

fided to Morel, the artisan. This sum had served to pay the bills of Saint Remy, and disarm other creditors; Dubreul, the farmer at Arnouville, was more than a year in advance, and besides, time was wanting; unfortunately for Madame de Lucenay, two of her friends, to whom she could have had recourse in an extreme situati

for, sir, and my guarantee is s

heir caprices as we

against your interest? for, I repeat to you, make yo

he conditions?" said the nota

I have no resource but in you, sir-in you alone. It will be impossible for me to find elsewhere that which I ask you for to-morrow; and

famous; but we have already said that sometimes Jacques Ferrand became a tiger or a wolf; then the beast overpowered the man. H

l nearer to the duchess. "Well, this sum I will lend to you on one condition,

at the mere thought of what his conditions might be, Madame de Lucenay, notwithstanding her inquietudes

ewed bursts of laughter, said to the notary, who was almost blind with rage, hatred, and fury, "I prefer, upon the whole, to ask this favor openl

terly. Yet, by degrees he reassured himself in thinking that the duches

in the blackest thoughts, when the private door of his

, "you were right enough in saying that we s

ho

sed littl

ow

elivered the little girl to rid us of her, fourteen years ag

pe

was below just now. She told me she

have told her? Tournem

she has found this child again, now grown up; that she knows where

day?" cried the notary, in a fit

e woman? What must we pro

ok as if she

eggar, she shook her retic

where this youn

lares sh

dead! And the child lives. I can restore her to her! Yes; but this false certificate of death-if any inquiry is made, I am lost! This crime

es

an will retur

morr

to be here to-nig

irl and the old woman? It will b

Folidori to be here to

not been able to see the notary, "Let M. de Graun send a c

rable wife of poor David, as handsome as she

onth's time you may ask this quest