Diana, at this moment, rose, opened a desk, and from a portfolio drew out the letter. Bussy glanced at the address and read, “To the beautiful Diana de Méridor.”
Then looking at Diana, he said—
“It is the Duc d’Anjou’s writing.”
“Ah!” replied she, with a sigh, “then he did not deceive me.”
Then, as Bussy hesitated to open the letter—
“Read,” said she, “chance has initiated you into the most secret history of my life, and I wish to keep nothing from you.”
Bussy obeyed and read—
“An unhappy prince, whom your divine beauty has struck to the heart, will come at ten o’clock to-night to apologize for his conduct towards you—conduct which he himself feels has no other excuse than the invincible love he entertains for you.
“FRANÇOIS.”
“Then this letter was really from the duke?” asked Diana.