"Decidedly, marquise, you have made me reflect. No, it would be unbecoming for me to make the first advance. Monsieur Fouquet no doubt loves me, but he is too proud. I cannot expose myself to an affront — besides, I have my husband to consider. You say nothing to me. Very well, I shall consult Monsieur Colbert on the subject."
Marguerite rose smilingly, as though to take leave, but the marquise had not the strength to imitate her. Marguerite advanced a few paces, in order that she might continue to enjoy the humiliating grief in which her rival was plunged, and then said suddenly:
"You do not accompany me to the door, then?"
The marquise rose, pale and almost lifeless, without thinking of the envelope, which had occupied her attention so greatly at the commencement of the conversation, and which was revealed at the first step she took. She then opened the door of her oratory, and without even turning her head toward Marguerite Vanel, entered it, closing the door after her. Marguerite said, or, rather muttered, a few words, which Mme. de Bellière did not even hear. As soon, however, as the marquise had disappeared, ber envious enemy, not being able to resist the desire to satisfy herself that her suspicions were really founded, advanced stealthily toward it like a panther, and seized the envelope.
"Ah!" she said, gnashing her teeth, "it was indeed a letter from Monsieur Fouquet she was reading when I arrived," and then darted out of the room. During this interval, the marquise, having arrived behind the rampart, as it were, of her door, felt that her strength was failing her; for a moment she remained rigid, pale, and motionless as a statue; and then, like a statue shaken on its base by a storm of wind, she tottered and fell inanimate on the carpet. The noise of the fall resounded at the same moment as the rolling of Marguerite's carriage leaving the hotel was heard.
CHAPTER XXVII.
MME. DE BELLIERE'S PLATE.
The blow had been the more painful on account of its being unexpected. It was some time before the marquise recovered herself; but, once recovered, she began to reflect upon the events which had been announced to her. She, therefore, returned, at the risk even of losing her life in
