She made no change whatever, except by adding these ominous lines as a postscript: "I implore you not to drive me to despair.

A mother who is pleading for her child's life--it is nothing less, in this case--is a woman who surely asserts a sacred claim.

Let no wise man deny it." "Do you think it quite discreet," I ventured to ask, "to add those words ?" She looked at me with a moment's furtive scrutiny, and only answered after she had sealed the letter, and placed it in my hands.
"I have my reasons," she replied.

"Let the words remain." Returning to the house at rather a late hour for Frankfort, I was surprised to find Mr.Keller waiting to see me.
"I have had a talk with my partner," he said.

"It has left (for the time only, I hope), a painful impression on both sides--and I must ask you to do me a service, in the place of Mr.Engelman--who has an engagement to-morrow, which prevents him from leaving Frankfort." His tone indicated plainly enough that the "engagement" was with Madame Fontaine.