But it is even worse than
that--she is the daughter of an inn-keeper."
"I refuse to believe it," answered the Prince, quietly.
"Monsieur Tellier, relate to him--"
"If Tellier so much as moves a finger, I will kick him down the stairs,"
added the Prince, still more calmly.
"But he has the papers from the notary!"
"That is nothing to me."
The duchess made a gesture of despair.
"Yet, after all," she cried, "that is a little thing beside this other.
Look at this," and she snatched a folded paper from the table at her
elbow. "She is a traitor to you--she has been playing with you--she has
been assisting these Englishmen to deceive you! You who are such a
stickler for honour in women no less than men! Look at this!"
"What is this paper?" asked the Prince, making no motion to take it from
her eager hand.
"It is a note which this impostor wrote to her and to her sister."
"And obtained how?" he questioned, a little pale, but keeping himself
well in hand.
"Obtained by Monsieur Tellier," replied the duchess. "It does not matter
how."
"No," said the Prince, "perhaps not; yet one can easily guess. By
bribing the chambermaid, perhaps; by forcing a lock; by rifling her
desk, examining her private papers. Oh, it is abominable!" and he turned
upon the Frenchman, fury in his eyes.
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