Then, "When do we reach
Angers?" she asked heavily.
"The day after to-morrow."
"I have--until the day after to-morrow?"
"Yes. To-night we lie near Vendome."
"And to-morrow night?"
"Near a place called La Fleche. It is possible," he went on with
hesitation--for he did not understand her--"that he may bathe to-morrow,
and may hand the packet to you, as he did to-day when I vainly sought
speech with you. If he does that--"
"Yes?" she said, her eyes on his face.
"The taking will be easy. But when he finds you have it not"--he
faltered anew--"it may go hard with you."
She did not speak.
"And there, I think, I can help you. If you will stray from the party, I
will meet you and destroy the letter. That done--and would God it were
done already--I will take to flight as best I can, and you will raise the
alarm and say that I robbed you of it! And if you tear your dress--"
"No," she said.
He looked a question.
"No!" she repeated in a low voice. "If I betray him I will not lie to
him! And no other shall pay the price! If I ruin him it shall be
between him and me, and no other shall have part in it!"
He shook his head. "I do not know," he murmured, "what he may do to
you!"
"Nor I," she said proudly. "That will be for him."
* * * * *
Curious eyes had watched the two as they climbed the hill.
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