Thoughtlessly he gave it to his sister, who took it as coolly. Without reflecting, or feeling astonishment, she broke open the envelope, but had scarcely read the few lines before she gave a loud scream, rose like a mad woman, and fell with her arms stiffening, as heavily as a statue, into the arms of the servant who ran up.
Philip picked up the letter and read:
At Sea., 15th Dec., 17—.
“Driven by you, I go, and you will never see me again. But I bear with me my child, who will never call you mother.
“GILBERT.”
“Oh,” said Philip, crushing up the paper in his wrath, “I had almost pardoned the crime by chance; but this deliberate one must be punished. By thy insensible, head, Andrea, I swear to kill the villain at sight. Doctor, see the poor girl into the Convent while I pursue this scoundrel. Besides, I must have this child. I will be at Havre in thirty-six hours.”
CHAPTER XLII.
A STRANGE ENCOUNTER.
PHILIP left his sister in the nunnery and rode straight to the post-house where he began his journey to the sea.
At Havre, he found the first ship for America to be the Brig Adonis, to set sail that day for New York and Boston. He sent his effects on board and followed with the tide.
Having written a farewell letter to the Dauphiness, Philip had no concerns with the land.