Besides, my old nurse spares me a great deal of care, and I shall not exchange the present, which I like, for an unknown fate." A few weeks later the post poured into two hearts the poison of anonymous letters,--one addressed to Madame de Portenduere, the other to Ursula.

The following is the one to the old lady:-- "You love your son, you wish to marry him in a manner conformable with the name he bears; and yet you encourage his fancy for an ambitious girl without money and the daughter of a regimental band-master, by inviting her to your house.

You ought to marry him to Mademoiselle du Rouvre, on whom her two uncles, the Marquis de Ronquerolles and the Chevalier du Rouvre, who are worth money, would settle a handsome sum rather than leave it to that old fool the Marquis du Rouvre, who runs through everything.

Madame de Serizy, aunt of Clementine du Rouvre, who has just lost her only son in the campaign in Algiers, will no doubt adopt her niece.

A person who is your well-wisher assures you that Savinien will be accepted." The letter to Ursula was as follows:-- Dear Ursula,--There is a young man in Nemours who idolizes you.