Page:The Mystery of Madeline Le Blanc (1900).djvu/50

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" is a message," said Irène to Madame Le Blanc, at two o'clock in the afternoon.

The mother sat, pale and motionless, in a large armchair near the door that faced the garden. It had stopped raining and the sun was out.

"Read it to me," she said.

"It is from Doctor Satiani." Irène read:—

"'Monsieur Le Blanc, I advise you to have your child interred today. Decay having set in a day ago, it would be unwise to keep her until to-morrow. Nothing can be done for her; and you must protect yourselves against the danger of keeping her in the house another night.

"'In deepest sympathy,