"As I used to by my work. I am sure that François approves, don't you, darling?"
And, with an instinctive movement, turning to Stéphane, as though he had a certain right to give his opinion, she added:
"You too approve, don't you, dear Stéphane?"
"Entirely," he said.
She at once went on:
"Besides, though I don't doubt my father's feelings of affection, I have no proof of his wishes towards me."
"I have the proofs," said Don Luis.
"How?"
"Patrice and I went back to Sarek. In a writing-desk in Maguennoc's room, in a secret drawer, we found a sealed, but unaddressed envelope, and opened it. It contained a bond worth ten thousand francs a year and a sheet of paper which read as follows:
"'After my death, Maguennoc will hand this bond to Stéphane Maroux, to whom I confide the charge of my grandson, François. When François is eighteen years of age, the bond will be his to do what he likes with. I hope and trust, however, that he will seek his mother and find her and that she will pray for my soul. I bless them both.'