Page:The fortunes of Fifi (IA fortunesoffifi00seawiala).pdf/92

 Chiaramonti, that I might have some surprising news about her. I was, this very morning, contemplating sending for you. Well, this young lady, whom you found crying in the market-place at Mantua, I have discovered is the granddaughter of Barnabas Gregory Chiaramonti, who was the first cousin and playmate, in his boyhood, of Gregory Barnabas Chiaramonti, now reigning over the Holy See as Pius the Seventh, and at present, sojourning as my guest at the palace of Fontainebleau."

Everything reeled before Cartouche, and he had to hold on to the back of a chair to keep from falling.

Some minutes passed. The world was changing its aspect so rapidly to Cartouche that he hardly recognized it as the same old planet he had known for thirty-five years.

The Emperor waited until Cartouche had a little recovered himself, although he was still pale and breathed hard. Then the Emperor said:

"I shall cause the Holy Father to be informed of Fifi's existence. He is a good old man, although as obstinate as the devil. Oh, I am sure we can ar