The General thought over it.

The letter was by no means a seductive letter for a young lady to receive from such a person, yet he did not anticipate the whole effect it would produce when ultimately he decided to give it to her, being of course unaware of the noble style of Clotilde's address to the baroness.

He stipulated that there must be no reply to it except through him, and Clotilde had the coveted letter in her hands at last.

Here was the mediatrix--the veritable goddess with the sword to cut the knot! Here was the manifestation of Alvan!.