A Petition

           "‘ThenwearetoloseMadamelaComtesse,butIhopeonlyforafewhours,’Isaid,withalowbow.

           "‘Itmaybethatonly,oritmaybeafewweeks.Itwasveryunluckyhisspeakingtomejustnowashedid.Doyounowknowme?’

           "IassuredherIdidnot.

           "‘Youshallknowme,’shesaid,‘butnotatpresent.Weareolderandbetterfriendsthan,perhaps,yoususpect.Icannotyetdeclaremyself.Ishallinthreeweekspassyourbeautifulschloss,aboutwhichIhavebeenmakingenquiries.Ishallthenlookinuponyouforanhourortwo,andrenewafriendshipwhichIneverthinkofwithoutathousandpleasantrecollections.Thismomentapieceofnewshasreachedmelikeathunderbolt.Imustsetoutnow,andtravelbyadeviousroute,nearlyahundredmiles,withallthedispatchIcanpossiblymake.Myperplexitiesmultiply.IamonlydeterredbythecompulsoryreserveIpracticeastomynamefrommakingaverysingularrequestofyou.Mypoorchildhasnotquiterecoveredherstrength.Herhorsefellwithher,atahuntwhichshehadriddenouttowitness,hernerveshavenotyetrecoveredtheshock,andourphysiciansaysthatshemustonnoaccountexertherselfforsometimetocome.Wecamehere,inconsequence,byveryeasystages—hardlysixleaguesaday.Imustnowtraveldayandnight,onamissionoflifeanddeath—amissionthecriticalandmomentousnatureofwhichIshallbeabletoexplaintoyouwhenwemeet,asIhopeweshall,inafewweeks,withoutthenecessityofanyconcealment.