M.Valentine Grandissime, of Tchoupitoulas, could not read.
"Show it to Agricola," cried two or three, as that great man came out upon the veranda, heavy-eyed, and with tumbled hair.
Sylvestre, spying Agricola's head beyond the ladies, put the question.
"How is it spelled on that paper ?" retorted the king of beasts.
"L-a-y--" "Ignoramus!" growled the old man.
"I did not spell it," cried Raoul, and attempted to seize the paper.

But Sylvestre throwing his hand behind him, a lady snatched the paper, two or three cried "Give it to Agricola!" and a pretty boy, whom the laughter and excitement had lured from the garden, scampered up the steps and handed it to the old man.
"Honore!" cried Raoul, "it must not be read.

It is one of your private matters." But Raoul's insinuation that anybody would entrust him with a private matter brought another laugh.
Honore nodded to his uncle to read it out, and those who could not understand English, as well as those who could, listened.

It was a paper Sylvestre had picked out of a waste-basket on the day of Aurore's visit to the counting-room.

Agricola read: "What is that layde want in thare with Honore ?" "Honore is goin giv her bac that proprety--that is Aurore De Grapion what Agricola kill the husband." That was the whole writing, but Agricola never finished.