"You are right, Claire," said the princess, "for I ordered that it should be all over at eleven, and the clock is just striking eleven; it must be all over."
The viscountess uttered a shriek of despair, and rose to her feet, to find herself face to face with Barrabas.
"Who are you? what do you want?" she cried. "Have you come so soon to tell me of his death?"
"No, madame," replied Barrabas, assuming his most affable expression, "on the contrary, I come to save him."
"How so?" cried Claire; "speak at once!"
"By handing this letter to Madame la Princesse."
Claire put out her hand, snatched the letter from the messenger, and handed it to the princess.
"I have no idea what there may be in this letter," said she, "but in Heaven's name read it!"
The princess opened the letter and read it aloud, while Madame de Cambes, turning paler at every line, devoured the words as they fell from her Highness's lips.
"From Nanon?" cried the princess when she had read it through. "Nanon is close by! Nanon gives herself up! Where is Lenet? Where is the duke? Call a messenger, a messenger!"