"Cæsar!" shouted Valentine.
At the voice of his master, the Newfoundland dog disengaged himself quickly from the arms of the young girl, and bounded to his side.
"Cæsar!" Rosario murmured faintly.
And then, in spite of the signs and orders of his master, the animal laid itself down at her feet.
With a bursting heart, the count made a violent effort, and sprang towards the door.
"Louis!" Rosario cried. "Louis, you have sworn never to be separated from Cæsar."
Louis staggered, as if struck by lightning; a glow of inexpressible joy lit up his face; he let the letter fall, and gently thrust forward by Valentine, fell at the feet of the lovely and now smiling girl.
"My father!" Rosario implored, throwing her arm round his neck, "I well knew that he loved me."
Valentine felt an acute pang mixed with an immense joy at this denouement.
"It is I," he said, picking up the letter with a smile, of which none but such a man is capable, "who must carry the answer."