"And if this letter were not from the Count? If it were a forgery?"
She changed colour, and snatched the paper from my hand.
"Oh, no!" said she. "I know his hand-writing. I cannot be mistaken." But, on reading the letter again, I observed that she grew still paler.
"I do not think," I observed, "that Alexis would have addressed such a demand to you."
"And why not? Who loves him better than I do?"
"Understand me rightly. For an act of friendship or devotion he would have applied to you, but for money to his mother. I tell you again, either I do not know Count W——'s character, or this letter is not written by him."
"But what will become of me? I have given every thing I possessed."
"How did the Count usually sign his letters?"
"Alexis always."
"You see this one is signed W——. It is evidently a forgery and we must immediately inform the police."