The Son Of Monte Cristo Part 82 (2/2)
GOUTRAN AND CARMEN
Goutran was really in love, although for a tie affair of Jane Zeld But now that calht of Carer hesitated He resolved to write to awolves in the Ardennes, and beg him to come up and lay his proposal before the banker He told Esperance what he ed the plan
When he had come to this conclusion, he was astonished to find that the saain attacked him Why did he hesitate? He would have been at a loss to say He deters, either to ask Carain He had been with Esperance for forty-eight hours, encouraging hi to Jane, and now he felt the need of fresh air He walked toward Saint Cloud, softly saying to hireen trees:
”I love her! I love her!”
On his return the decision was made He would write to his uncle the next day As he entered the hotel, the concierge said to him mysteriously:
”There was a lady here, sir”
”A lady! What lady?”
”Ah! sir, that I can't say My discretion was too great to perh she was heavily vailed She asked for you, and when I told her you were out she looked embarrassed, and finally drew froave it to ent”
”A note! Where is it? You should have given it to me at once”
”Oh! it is safe, sir, in e with a davenport! What is the world coood man produced the paper in question, rose colored and perfumed Goutran tore it open, but did not read it until he reached his own roo letters, the result of lessons frolishBut when he glanced at the signature he with difficulty refrained froned, ”Carmen de L----” These were its contents:
”MONSIEUR GOUTRAN--or will you allow me to call you my friend--I ht, at eleven o'clock, I shall expect you Ring at the side door of the hotel; my maid will be in attendance Do not fail, for you and those you love are in danger”
Goutran was amazed What did these mysterious lines mean? And of whoreatly disturbed, but he was not theup and down a street which coy, but he felt none of the e to a rendezvous He had a feeling of strange oppression Finally the clock struck eleven The side door was on the Rue Saint Honore Goutran was about to ring the bell, when the door was opened and a hand was laid on his
”Come this way,” said a woman's voice
It was the curioussure that it was a lover she adhted Presently he entered Carmen's boudoir, but she was not there
”I will notify the young lady,” said thes with his hat in his hand when Carmen entered She was very simply dressed in black Her beautiful face was very pale Her blonde hair looked like burnished gold She extended her hand as he advanced with a profound bow
”Many thanks,” she said, ”for having come I hardly dared expect you”
”Why did you doubt me? Did you suppose that I could be deaf to such a mark of confidence?”
Carmen smiled sadly
”Yes,” she said, ”I do feel entire confidence in you, a confidence that is most real”