"Yes, madame, it is true that he acted by my orders. You have absolute confidence in this girl; but let me tell you, madame, that she abuses it; for I assume that it is not with your consent that she receives her lover in this house. Denial would be quite useless; I am certain of what I say: about ten days ago,--the evening when you claimed to be indisposed, madame,--a cavalier carefully enveloped in a cloak entered this house after asking for mademoiselle. Now, was it she or you whom he came to see? It is for you to answer this question, madame." "It was not to see Miretta that that gentleman came, monsieur; it was to see me." The marquis stepped back, glaring at his wife, and murmured, while his hand sought his sword hilt: "To see you! that man came here to see you, madame!" "Yes, monsieur, nor is that all; Miretta now has upon her a letter which I gave her to take to this same gentleman." "Infamous!--What, madame, you dare to confess----" "One does not fear to confess, when no criminal purpose exists; there is no infamy when a woman seeks to avenge her own honor; and really, monsieur le marquis, for a man who, I had been told, was so jealous, so sensitive in the matter of honor, you have been a long time finding out that someone was making love to your wife.--Miretta, give monsieur le marquis the note I handed you, and go." Miretta made haste to obey the marchioness; she was secretly rejoiced to deliver to the husband the note addressed to the lover; she understood that her mistress was carrying out her scheme of vengeance at last; and she left the room, with a glance at Valentine expressive of her satisfaction. The Marquis de Santoval took the note that the girl handed him; he was still inclined to disbelieve what he heard; he found it difficult to understand his wife's conduct. However, he opened the letter and read: "This evening, about ten o'clock, be in the first arcade on Place Royale, as you enter from Rue des Tournelles. I will join you there." "This is an assignation, madame," said the marquis, angrily crumpling the letter in his hand. "Yes, monsieur; but pray do not crumple the paper so, unless you wish me to have the trouble of writing another." "What, madame, you propose----" "Really, monsieur, I thought that you had more penetration; but, since I must explain everything to you, listen: this letter was----" "For Comte Léodgard de Marvejols, madame." "Even so, monsieur; ah! I am very glad that you have at least guessed that.--Now, do you not know that, in accordance with plans formed by our parents, Comte Léodgard was to have been my husband?" "Your husband?--I did not know it."