Through the door she asked: “Who is there?”
“It is a letter,” an unknown voice replied.
“A letter! From whom?”
“From a physician.”
“What physician?”
“I do not know; it is about some accident.”
Hesitating no more, she opened the door, and found herself facing a cab-driver in an oilskin cap. He held a paper in his hand, which he presented to her. She read: “Very urgent—Monsieur le Comte de Guilleroy.”
The writing was unknown.
“Enter, my good man,” said she; “sit down, and wait for me.”
When she reached her husband's door her heart was beating so violently that she could not call him. She pounded on the wood with her metal candlestick. The Count was asleep and did not hear.