"Well," said Eugénie, cheerfully, "we have then only to pack up our trunks; we shall start the evening of the signature, instead of the evening of the wedding—that is all."
"Reflect well, Eugénie!"
"Oh, I have finished all my reflections! I am tired of hearing only of reports, of the end of the month, of up and down of Spanish funds, of Haitian paper. Instead of that, Louise—do you understand?—air, liberty, melody of birds, plains of Lombardy, Venetian canals, Roman palaces, the Bay of Naples. How much have we, Louise?"
The young girl to whom this question was addressed drew from an inlaid secrétaire a small portfolio with a lock, in which she counted twenty-three bank-notes.
"Twenty-three thousand francs," said she.
"And as much more, at least, in pearls, diamonds, and jewels," said Eugénie. "We are rich. With forty-five thousand francs we have enough to live on as princesses during two years, and comfortably during four; but before six months—you with your music, and I with my voice—we shall double our capital. Come, you shall take charge of the money, I of the jewel-box; so that if one of us had the misfortune to lose her treasure, the other would still have hers left. Now, the valise! let us make haste—the valise!"
"Stop!" said Louise, going to listen at Madame Danglars' door.
"What do you fear?"
"That we may be discovered."
"The door is locked."
"They may tell us to open it."
"They may if they like, but we will not."
"You are a perfect Amazon, Eugénie!" And the two young girls began to heap into a trunk all the things they thought they should require.
"There now," said Eugénie, "while I change my costume do you lock the valise." Louise pressed with all the strength of her little hands on the top of the portmanteau.
"But I cannot," said she; "I am not strong enough; do you shut it."
"Ah, you are right!" said Eugénie, laughing; "I forgot I was Hercules, and you only the pale Omphale!"
And the young girl, kneeling on the top, pressed the two parts of the portmanteau together, and Mademoiselle d'Armilly passed the bolt of the padlock through. When this was done, Eugénie opened a drawer, of which she kept the key, and took from it a wadded violet silk traveling cloak.
"Here," said she, "you will see I have thought of everything; with this cloak you will not be cold."
