"You have not looked at the writing, have you?"
"Not I! I dare swear 'tis some woman. Nothing else would be tied with red ribbon and scented with musk. Throw the thing away. It is too thick with memories of that traitor. My God! I did not think earth held so foul a villain."
But Lorgnac took no notice of his last words, only the hand holding the packet began to shake a little as he said slowly:
"As it happens, I know the writing well. It is a woman's hand———"
Both Le Brusquet and I turned on him, the same thought in our hearts.
"She!" I said, and half rising from my seat; but with an exclamation Le Brusquet snatched the packet from De Lorgnac's hand. In a moment the letters were opened, and he was reading them with feverish haste. There were four letters in all, and when he had done he looked at us, and there was the light of hope in his eyes.
"Speak, man!" And I gripped him by the arm. "I cannot bear this longer!"
"It is God's providence," he said solemnly as he grasped my hand. "Orrain, take heart! We win! Read these—and you too, Lorgnac! When you have read we must to the Queen at once."