" Her lack of curiosity saved her. Some
women would have opened the letter, read, and been destroyed. But
madame's guiding star was undimmed.
It was just before the evening mess that the Chevalier, on entering his
room, saw the volume and the letter. He gave his attention immediately
to the letter; and, became strangely fascinated. It was addressed to
his father! "To Monsieur le Marquis de Perigny, to be delivered into
his hands at my death." Whose death? The Chevalier rested the letter
on the palm of his hand. How came it here? He inspected the envelope.
It was unsealed. He balanced it, first on one hand, then, on the
other. Was it the wine that caused the shudder? Whose death? kept
ringing through his brain. How the gods must have smiled as they
played with the fate of this man! Terror and tragedy, and only an
opaque sheet of paper between! Whose death? The envelope was old, the
ink was faded. What was written within? Did the contents in any way
concern him? It was within a finger's reach. But he hesitated, as a
blind man hesitates when the guiding hand is suddenly withdrawn. "To
Monsieur le Marquis de Perigny, to be delivered into his hands at my
death.
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