“VICOMTE,—You are perfectly right to amuse yourself yonder with the lovely faces of Charles II.‘s court, for at Louis XIV.‘s court, the castle in which your affections are enshrined is being besieged. Stay in London altogether, poor vicomte, or return without delay to Paris.”
“There is no signature,” said Miss Mary.
“None.”
“Believe it not, then.”
“Very good; but here is a second letter, from my friend De Guiche, which says, ‘I am lying here wounded and ill. Return, Raoul, oh, return!’”
“What do you intend doing?” inquired the young girl, with a feeling of oppression at her heart.
“My intention, as soon as I received this letter, was immediately to take my leave of the king.”
“When did you receive it?”
“The day before yesterday.”
“It is dated Fontainebleau.”