CHAPTER XLI.
A DEED WITHOUT A NAME.
Caroline, profoundly agitated, rested her hands on the back of a
chair for support, and regarded La Corriveau for some moments
without speaking. She tried to frame a question of some
introductory kind, but could not. But the pent-up feelings came
out at last in a gush straight from the heart.
"Did you write this?" said she, falteringly, to La Corriveau, and
holding out the letter so mysteriously placed in her hand by Mere
Malheur. "Oh, tell me, is it true?"
La Corriveau did not reply except by a sign of assent, and standing
upright waited for further question.
Caroline looked at her again wonderingly. That a simple peasant-
woman could have indited such a letter, or could have known aught
respecting her father, seemed incredible.
"In heaven's name, tell me who and what you are!" exclaimed she. "I
never saw you before!"
"You have seen me before!" replied La Corriveau quietly.
Caroline looked at her amazedly, but did not recognize her. La
Corriveau continued, "Your father is the Baron de St.
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