"Is it possible," said she, "that a man of intellect, one of the cleverest politicians in the kingdom, allows himself to be gulled by anonymous letters?" "That's all very well; but how do you explain this letter, anonymous or not?" "Why, the explanation's very simple; it's simply a continuation of the generous proceedings of our friends at Agen. Monsieur de Canolles applied to you for leave of absence on account of urgent private business, and you granted it; they found out that he had come in this direction, and this absurd accusation has no other foundation than his journey." Nanon noticed that the duke's features did not relax, but that his scowl became more pronounced. "The explanation would answer, if the letter you attribute to your friends had not a certain postscript, which, in your confusion, you omitted to read." The young woman shivered with terror; she realized that, if chance did not come to her assistance, she could not long continue the struggle. "A postscript?" she repeated. "Yes; read it," said the duke; "you have the letter in your hands." Nanon tried to smile; but she felt that her distorted features would not lend their aid to any such demonstration; she contented herself, therefore, with reading aloud, in the firmest tones she could command,-- "'I have in my possession Mademoiselle de Lartigues' letter to Monsieur de Canolles, making the appointment I mention for this evening. I will give up the letter in exchange for a paper signed in blank by Monsieur d'Épernon, to be handed to me by a man, alone in a boat on the Dordogne, opposite the village of Saint-Michel-la-Rivière, at six o'clock in the evening.'" "And you were so imprudent--" continued Nanon. "Your handwriting is so precious to me, dear lady, that I thought I could not pay too high a price for a letter of yours." "And you revealed such a secret to the possible indiscretion of one of your servants! Oh! Monsieur le Duc!" "Such confidences, madame, a man should receive in person, and I so received this one. I, myself, was waiting in the boat on the Dordogne." "Then you have my letter?" "Here it is." Nanon made a superhuman effort to remember the exact contents of the letter, but it was impossible; her brain was beginning to be confused. She had no alternative, therefore, but to take her own letter and read it. It contained barely three lines; Nanon ran her eye over them in eager haste, and saw, with unspeakable delight, that the letter did not compromise her beyond all hope. "Read it aloud," said the duke; "like you, I have forgotten what the letter contains." Nanon found the smile she had sought in vain a few seconds before, and complied with the duke's suggestion. "'I shall take supper at eight o'clock. Are you free? I am. If so, be punctual, my dear Canolles, and have no fear for our secret.'" "I should say that that is explicit enough," cried the duke, pale with rage.