"
He passed into the drawing-room as he spoke, and Florent scarcely
waited till the door was closed before uttering an oath. "May the
devil take him!" he exclaimed. "Here he sets me on the go again.
It is five o'clock, too, and I have an appointment in half an
hour.
A sudden hope quickened the throbbings of Chupin's heart. He
touched the valet's arm, and in his most persuasive tone remarked:
"I've nothing to do, and as your wine was so good, I'll do your
errands for you, if you'll pay me for the wear and tear of shoe-
leather."
Chupin's appearance must have inspired confidence, for the servant
replied:--"Well--I don't refuse--but we'll see."
The viscount did not spend much time in writing; he speedily
reappeared holding two letters which he flung upon the table,
saying: "One of these is for the baroness. You must deliver it
into HER hands or into the hands of her maid--there will be no
answer. You will afterward take the other to the person it is
addressed to, and you must wait for an answer which you will place
on my writing-table--and make haste." So saying, the viscount went
off as he had entered--on the run--and a moment later, his
brougham was heard rolling out of the courtyard.
Florent was crimson with rage. "There," said he, addressing
Chupin rather than the concierge, "what did I tell you? A letter
to be placed in madame's own hands or in the hands of her maid,
and to be concealed from the baron, who is on the watch, of
course.
Pages:
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247