Jack turned to the light and looked at the letter which had been placed in his hand.
Good heavens! What was this?
"THE DUKE AND HE HELD A WHISPERED CONVERSATION."
It was no love letter, but a document folded in the shape of a letter. Jack looked at it eagerly, and read it through not once, but twice, and thrice.
It was Napoleon's directions to his generals, signed by the Emperor himself, containing specific instructions respecting the forthcoming battle against the allied forces. The one line that burnt itself into Jack's brain was that an advance was to be made upon Quatre Bras early the next morning. Wellington had no suspicion that the advance was to be made so soon; for Jack knew that he and many of the officers were at a ball given by the Duchess of Richmond in the Grande Place.
The Frenchman had said that he was an officer, enjoying a position of great responsibility and trust. Jack saw it all. He had given him this document instead of, as he supposed, the dead woman's letter. Then came to Jack a question of honour. Had he the right to use this information?
He did not pause long to consider the point. The safety of his country was at stake. That was enough. The old maxim, "All is fair in love and war," had now a double signification. So Jack hurried along with all possible speed to the Grande Place.
The ball was at its height. The strains of music, the laughter of the dancers, came to Jack as he neared the Duchess's residence.
He was stopped at the entrance to the hall by a gendarme.