"You must strike the iron while it's hot."
"But he promises me----"
"To promise and to keep one's promises are two different things."
"He wants a reply."
"Tell him----" But he stopped short, calling her attention with a
gesture to the messenger, whose eyes were glittering with intense
curiosity.
She understood. So filling a glass with some liquor, she placed
it before Chupin, and offered him a cigar, saying: "Take a seat--
here's something to keep you from feeling impatient while you wait
here." Thereupon she followed the old gentleman into the adjoining
room, and closed the door.
Even if Chupin had not possessed the precocious penetration he
owed to his life of adventure, the young woman and the old
gentleman had said enough to enable him to form a correct estimate
of the situation. He was certain now that he knew the contents of
the letter as perfectly as if he had read it. M. de Coralth's
anger, and his order to make haste, were both explained.
Moreover, Chupin distinctly saw what connection there was between
the letter to the baroness and the letter to Madame Paul. He
understood that one was the natural consequence of the other.
Deserted by her husband, Madame Paul had at last become weary of
poverty and privations. She had instituted a search for her
husband, and, having found him, she had written to him in this
style: "I consent to abstain from interfering with you, but only
on conditions that you provide means of subsistence for me, your
lawfully wedded wife, and for your child.
Pages:
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258