Young men have such bad taste nowadays!"
"Let us see, father," said the old spinster.
The case opened by the pressure of a spring.
They found in it nothing but a carefully folded paper.
"From the same to the same," said M. Gillenormand, bursting with laughter.
"I know what it is.
A billet-doux."
"Ah! let us read it!" said the aunt.
And she put on her spectacles.
They unfolded the paper and read as follows:--
"For my son.--The Emperor made me a Baron on the battlefield of Waterloo.
Since the Restoration disputes my right to this title which I purchased with my blood, my son shall take it and bear it. That he will be worthy of it is a matter of course."
The feelings of father and daughter cannot be described.
They felt chilled as by the breath of a death's-head. They did not exchange a word.
Only, M. Gillenormand said in a low voice and as though speaking to himself:--
"It is the slasher's handwriting."
The aunt examined the paper, turned it about in all directions, then put it back in its case.
At the same moment a little oblong packet, enveloped in blue paper, fell from one of the pockets of the great-coat. Mademoiselle Gillenormand picked it up and unfolded the blue paper.
It contained Marius' hundred cards.
She handed one of them to M. Gillenormand, who read: