; and he
had been entrusted by him with a secret mission to Italy. My father is
Count Rheteau de Commarin."
"Whew!" exclaimed the old fellow; and the better to engrave the name
upon his memory, he repeated several times, between his teeth, "Rheteau
de Commarin."
For a few minutes Noel remained silent. After having appeared to do
everything to control his resentment, he seemed utterly dejected, as
though he had formed the determination to attempt nothing to repair the
injury he had sustained.
"In the middle of the month of May, then," he continued, "my father is
at Naples. It is whilst there, that he, a man of prudence and sense,
a dignified diplomatist, a nobleman, prompted by an insensate passion,
dares to confide to paper this most monstrous of projects. Listen!
"'My adored one,--
"'It is Germain, my old valet, who will hand you this letter. I am
sending him to Normandy, charged with a commission of the most delicate
nature. He is one of those servitors who may be trusted implicitly.
"'The time has come for me to explain to you my projects respecting my
son. In three weeks, at the latest, I shall be in Paris.
"'If my previsions are not deceited, the countess and you will be
confined at the same time.
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