A kiss, a sorrowful look of love exchanged, the veil dropped over the swollen eyes, and Aurora was gone.
A minute passed, hardly more, and--what was this ?--the soft patter of Aurora's knuckles on the door.
"Just here at the corner I saw Palmyre leaving her house and walking down the rue Royale.

We must wait until morn--" Again a footfall on the doorstep, and the door, which was standing ajar, was pushed slightly by the force of the masculine knock which followed.
"Allow me," said the voice of Honore Grandissime, as Aurora bowed at the door.

"I should have handed you this; good-day." She received a missive.

It was long, like an official document; it bore evidence of having been carried for some hours in a coat-pocket, and was folded in one of those old, troublesome ways in use before the days of envelopes.

Aurora pulled it open.
"It is all figures; light a candle." The candle was lighted by Clotilde and held over Aurora's shoulder; they saw a heading and footing more conspicuous than the rest of the writing.
The heading read: "_Aurora and Clotilde Nancanou, owners of Fausse Riviere Plantation, in account with Honore Grandissime_." The footing read: _ "Balance at credit, subject to order of Aurora and Clotilde Nancanou, $105,000.00_." The date followed: "_March_ 9, 1804." and the signature: "_H.