She had not been gone five minutes when a letter came by messenger to
Edouard. It was from Picard. He read it out.
"Perrin has been with me, to raise money. He wants it in forty-eight
hours. Promises good legal security. I have agreed to try and arrange
the matter for him."
They were all astonished at this.
"The double-faced traitor!" cried Edouard. "Stay; wait a minute. Let us
read it to an end."
"This promise is, of course, merely to prevent his going elsewhere. At
the end of the forty-eight hours I shall begin to make difficulties.
Meantime, as Perrin is no fool, you had better profit to the full by
this temporary delay."
"Well done, Picard!" shouted Edouard. "Notary cut notary. I won't
lose an hour. I'll start at five; Commandant Raynal is an early riser
himself."
Accordingly, at five he was on the road; Raynal's quarters lay in the
direct line to his uncle's place. He found the commandant at home, and
was well received. Raynal had observed his zeal, and liked his manners.
He gave him the week's leave, and kept him to breakfast, and had his
horse well fed.
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