Ah! I have
not always been so patient and resigned! The laws of our country
do not forbid illigitimate children to search for their parents,
and more than once I have said to myself that I would discover my
mother, and have my revenge."
"But you have no means of discovering her?"
"In this you are greatly mistaken, madame. After the Count de
Chalusse's death, a package of letters, a glove and some withered
flowers were found in one of the drawers of his escritoire."
The baroness started back as if a yawning chasm had suddenly
opened at her feet. "My letters!" she exclaimed. "Ah! wretched
woman that I am, he kept them. It is all over! I am lost, for of
course, they have been read?"
"The ribbon securing them together has never been untied."
"Is that true? Don t deceive me! Where are they, then--where are
they?"
"Under the protection of the seals affixed by the justice of the
peace."
Madame Trigault tottered, as if she were about to fall. "Then it
is only a reprieve," she moaned, "and I am none the less ruined.
Those cursed letters will necessarily be read, and all will be
discovered. They will see----" The thought of what they would
see endowed her with the energy of despair, and clutching hold of
Marguerite's wrists: "Listen!" said she, approaching so near that
her hot breath scorched the girl's cheeks, "no one must be allowed
to see those letters!--it must not be! I will tell you what they
contain.
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