“It is dreadful,” stammered the countess.
“Take heed of my questioning,” said Balsamo. “First tell me how many persons I have with me?”
“Two, a man and a woman: the man is the Duke of Richelieu, the woman, the Countess Dubarry.”
“Reading in his mind,” uttered the duke; “this is pretty clever.”
“I never saw the like,” said the countess, trembling.
“It is well,” said Balsamo; “now, read the first line of the letter which I hold.”
The Voice obeyed.
Duke and countess looked at each other with astonishment rising to admiration.
“What has happened to this letter, which I wrote under your dictation?”
“It is travelling to the west and is afar.”