"
Meanwhile, his assistant had returned, bringing the necessary
apparatus with him. When all was ready, the photographer asked
her, "Will you give me the letter, madame?"
She hesitated for a second--only for a second. The man's honest,
kindly face told her that he would not betray her, that he would
rather give her assistance. So she handed him the Marquis de
Valorsay's letter, saying, with melancholy dignity, "It is my
happiness and my future that I place in your hands--and I have no
fears."
He read her thoughts, and understood that she either dared not ask
for a pledge of secrecy, or else that she thought it unnecessary.
He took pity on her, and his last doubt fled. "I shall read this
letter, madame," said he, "but I am the only person who will read
it. I give you my word on that! No one but myself will see the
proofs."
Greatly moved, she offered him her hand, and simply said, "Thanks;
I am more than repaid."
To obtain an absolutely perfect facsimile of a letter is a
delicate and sometimes lengthy operation. However, at the end of
about twenty minutes, the photographer possessed two negatives
that promised him perfect proofs. He looked at them with a
satisfied air; and then returning the letter to Mademoiselle
Marguerite, he said, "In less than three days the facsimiles will
be ready, madame; and if you will tell me to what address I ought
to send them----"
She trembled on hearing these words, and quickly answered, "Don't
send them, sir--keep them carefully.
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