But Raymond did not answer; he was murmuring some words to himself, with hands lifted reverently as in prayer, while a smile of unearthly joy diffused itself on his
whole countenance. The emotion was too much for him; he fell back exhausted on his pillow.
Franceline thought he had fainted and screamed out for help. Sir Simon was beside her in an instant.
“Raymond! my friend, my brother, can you ever forgive me?” he cried, kneeling beside M. de la Bourbonais and taking his hand in both his.
“You know the truth, then? You got his letter?”
“Whose letter? I got no letter; but I found the ring. Look at it!”
He drew an enamelled snuff-box from his pocket, opened it, and held up the diamond, that flashed in the sun like a little star.
“Thank Heaven! I shall now be justified before all men!” exclaimed M. de la Bourbonais with trembling emotion. “This is more than I dared to hope. My God! I give thee thanks for this great mercy.”
No one spoke for a moment. Franceline had signed to Angélique to leave the room, but remained herself, a silent spectator of the strange scene.
“Who had it? How was it found?” said M. de la Bourbonais, taking the ring and examining it with an expression of mistrust, as if it were some uncanny thing that he half expected to see melt in his fingers.