23/29 She whispered, "It was the 3d of May." "Ah!" cried the baroness, starting up, "he may yet be alive. Heaven is merciful! Heaven would not take my son from me, a poor old woman who has not long to live. There was a letter; where is the letter ?" "Are we mad, not to read the letter ?" said the doctor. "I had it; it has dropped from my old fingers when I went for the journal." A short examination of the room showed the letter lying crumpled up near the door. |