"Take any amount you please, of course, my dear Louis. The matter shall be arranged to-morrow."
CHAPTER XV.
MADAME LACOMBE'S UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER.
On leaving the notary's office, Louis hastened to Mariette's home. He found the young girl sewing by the bedside of her godmother, who seemed to be sound asleep.
Her lover's extreme pallor, as well as the sad expression of his face, struck the young girl at once, and running toward him, she exclaimed, anxiously:
"Oh, Louis, something terrible must have happened, I am sure."
"Yes, Mariette. Have you heard of the frightful accident that occurred on the Versailles railroad yesterday?"
"Yes, it was horrible. People say there were nobody knows how many victims."
"I can hardly doubt that my father was one of the number."
Quick as thought, Mariette threw herself, sobbing, on Louis's breast, and for a long time the two stood clasped in a silent embrace. Louis was the first to speak.
"Mariette, you know how devotedly I loved my father, so you can judge of my despair," he said, sadly.