"Because there was such an utter lack of congeniality between her character and yours; but if, as we have good reason to believe, her character has been transformed by the very exigencies of the life she has been leading for the last four years, perhaps what she most disliked in you prior to that time will please her most now. Did she not tell you, in the heat of your quarrel, that she considered you one of the most generous and honourable of men?" "Nevertheless, I dare not cherish the slightest hope, madame. Disappointment would be too hard to bear." "Hope on, hope ever, monsieur! Disappointment, if it comes at all, will come only too soon. But to change hope into certainty, we must first penetrate the veil of mystery in which Florence and Michel have enveloped themselves. The nature of the relations existing between them once fathomed, we shall know exactly where we stand." "I agree with you perfectly, madame, but how are we to do that?" "By resorting to the same expedient we employed this morning; by following them, though not without exercising much greater precautions. The hour at which they leave home makes this comparatively easy, but if this mode of procedure proves a failure, we shall have to devise some other." "Possibly it would be less likely to excite their suspicions if I followed them alone." "Very well, monsieur, and if you do not succeed, I will see what I can do." Here an apologetic rap at the door interrupted the conversation. "Come in," said Madame d'Infreville. A servant entered with a letter in his hand. "A messenger just left this for madame," he explained. "From whom?" "He did not say, madame. He left as soon as he handed me the letter." "You may go," said Valentine; then, turning to M. de Luceval, "Will you permit me?" she asked. He bowed his assent. Valentine broke the seal, glanced at the signature, and exclaimed: "Florence? Why, it is a letter from Florence!" "From my wife?" exclaimed M. de Luceval. They gazed at each other in utter amazement. "But how did she discover your address, madame?" "I have no idea." "Read it, madame, read it, in Heaven's name!" Madame d'Infreville read as follows: "MY DEAR VALENTINE:--I have learned that you are in Paris, and I can not tell you what happiness it would give me to embrace you, but it is absolutely necessary for me to defer that pleasure for nearly three months, that is, until early in June. "If you care to see your old friend at that time,--and I have the assurance to believe that you will,--you must go to M. Duval, notary, at Number 17 Rue Montmartre, and tell him who you are. He will then give you a letter containing my address. He will not receive this letter until the last of May, however; and at this present time he does not even know me by name.