As I had suspected, Louise had resolved to join Count W---- at Tobolsk; but she could not set out till after her confinement, which was to take place in a couple of months. Meantime she busied herself with preparations. By turning every thing she possessed into money, she got together a sum of thirty thousand rubles. At her request, I applied to my kind friend, Monsieur de Gorgoli, to obtain from the Emperor permission for her to rejoin her lover. Her intentions had got wind in St Petersburg, and every body spoke with admiration of the devoted attachment of the young Frenchwoman. Many thought, however, that her courage would fail her when the moment of departure arrived; but I knew her better, and felt assured of the contrary. At the commencement of September, she became the mother of a boy. I wished her to write to the mother of Alexis to announce this event; but she refused. The Countess heard of it, however, and wrote to Louise, to say that she was expecting her with her child. Her recovery was slow, the various emotions she had undergone during her pregnancy having weakened her health. She would have left St Petersburg long before she was strong enough to do so; but the permission to join Count W---- was to come through me, and I refused to apply for it till her medical attendant gave her leave to travel. One morning the door of my apartment opened and Louise entered, her face radiant with joy. "He will escape!" cried she. "Who?" "He--Alexis." "How! Escape? It is impossible." "Read that," she said and handed me a letter in the Count's hand-writing. It was as follows:--"Dearest Louise--Place all confidence in the bearer of this letter. He is more than my friend--he is my saviour. "I fell ill upon the road, and was obliged to stop at Perm. The physicians declared I was not able to continue my journey, and it was decided I should pass the winter in the prison of that town. As good fortune would have it, the jailer's brother is an old servant of my family and willing to aid my escape. He and his brother fly with me; but I must have means of indemnifying them for what they give up on my account, and for the risk they run. Give the bearer all the money and jewels you possess. As soon as I am in safety I will write to you to come and join me. Adieu. W----." "Well," said I after reading the letter twice over, "what have you done?" "Can you ask the question?" "What!" cried I. "You have given ...?" "Every ruble I had," interrupted she. "And if this letter were not from the Count? If it were a forgery?" She changed colour, and snatched the paper from my hand. "Oh, no!" said she. "I know his hand-writing. I cannot be mistaken." But, on reading the letter again, I observed that she grew still paler. "I do not think," I observed, "that Alexis would have addressed such a demand to you." "And why not? Who loves him better than I do?"