Taking the card, Louis approached the light and read:
"Commander de La Miraudière, "17 Rue du Mont-Blanc.
"Will expect M. Louis Richard at my home, between nine and ten o'clock to-morrow morning, to communicate something of grave importance, which admits of no delay."
"Commander de La Miraudière? I never heard the name," said Louis, gazing curiously at the card; then, as he mechanically turned it over, his eyes caught sight of these words in pencil:
"Mariette Moreau, with Madame Lacombe, Rue des Prêtres-Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois."
The commander had noted Mariette's address on the back of his card, and unconsciously used the same in writing to Louis to request an interview.
Much astonished and perplexed, the young man vainly asked himself what relation could exist between this stranger, whose card he held, and Mariette.
"Did the gentleman leave any other message?" he asked the concierge.
"Did he say anything?"
"Nothing, except that I was to give you the card without your father's knowledge."
"Strange," murmured the young man.