"With these two companions
I am going to meet the gentleman who is so determined to see the face of
the veiled lady. I shall show him a lady whose face is not a subject of
gossip."
The baroness uttered a cry of terror, and seized Count Vavel's hand.
"No, no; you shall not go alone. Listen. I was prepared for just such a
decision on your part, so I wrote this letter. If you persist in going
alone to meet the colonel, I shall hurry back to the manor, send my
groom on the swiftest horse I own with this letter to Colonel Barthelmy.
Read it."
She unfolded the letter she had taken from her pocket, and held it so
that Count Vavel might read, without taking it in his hands:
"HERR COLONEL: You need not seek Mme. Ange Barthelmy at the
Nameless Castle. The veiled lady seen in company with Count Vavel
is
"B. KATHARINA LANDSKNECHTSSCHILD."
In speechless amazement Count Vavel looked down at the baroness, who
calmly folded the letter and returned it to her pocket.
"Now you may go if you like," she said coolly, "and I, too, shall do as
_I_ like! The colonel will then have written proof to justify him in
dragging my name in the dust!"
The count gazed long and earnestly into the lovely face turned
defiantly toward him.
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