In truth, I gathered from Madame's letter that he must have written to her saying that the visit was at present impossible.

Madame, in fact, asked me to advise her by return of the state of the Vicomte's health, and plainly told me that if business matters were worrying him she would return to Paris without delay.
And if Madame returned she would bring Lucille with her, and thus put an end to the aspirations of Alphonse Giraud, for the prosecution of which the seclusion of La Pauline afforded excellent opportunity.

I had but to write a word to bring all this about.

Did Madame de Clericy know all that she placed within my power?
Did she know, and yet place it there purposely?
Who can tell?
I remembered Lucille's coldness--her departure without one word of explanation.

I recollected that the twenty million francs at that moment in the Hotel Clericy would, in due course, be part of Alphonse Giraud's fortune.