Page:A Virgin Heart.pdf/208

204 glance, when Martinvast castle caught her eye. At the foot of the keep she found M. Hervart's 'love and kisses'. The blood came suddenly to her eyes; she turned the card over and read: "Mademoiselle Gratienne Leboeuf, Rue du Havre, Honﬂeur." She looked up; Leonor did not seem to have noticed the incident, and with a rapid gesture she folded up the card and slipped it into her bosom.

"Monsieur Leonor you've dropped your pocket-book."

Leonor descended his ladder and thanked her, while Rose walked away. When she had disappeared he noticed with delight that she had stolen Martinvast Castle; then, whistling, he climbed up once more to see his workmen.

Arrived in her room, Rose sat down, trembling.

"I have made a mistake," she said to herself. "It isn't possible. And how could it have come into Leonor's hands?"

She extracted the card from its hiding-place, unfolded it and looked at it, trembling.

"It's his writing all right."

She still felt doubtful.

"What's the date?"