"Wait,"she said,and disappeared again.
Felix had ably prepared her excuse,and he was instantly rewarded for his generosity.His wife returned with Nathan's letters in her hand,and gave them to him.
"Judge me,"she said,kneeling down beside him.
"Are we able to judge where we love?"he answered,throwing the letters into the fire;for he felt that later his wife might not forgive him for having read them.Marie,with her head upon his knee,burst into tears.
"My child,"he said,raising her head,"where are your letters?"At this question the poor woman no longer felt the intolerable burning of her cheeks;she turned cold.
"That you may not suspect me of calumniating a man whom you think worthy of you,I will make Florine herself return you those letters.""Oh!Surely he would give them back to me himself.""Suppose that he refused to do so?"