as to his whereabouts from a servant passing the open door, she was told that he had gone out.
He had been writing letters, it was evident. His chair stood before his desk, and there was an addressed envelope lying upon it.
She went to the desk and glanced at it without any special motive for doing so. It was addressed to herself. She opened and read it.
"My dear Rachel," it ran. "In all probability we shall not meet again for some time. I find myself utterly unable to remain to meet the blow which must inevitably fall before many days are over. The anxiety of the past year has made me a coward. I ask your forgiveness for what you may call my desertion of you. We have never relied upon each other much, and you at least are not included in my ruin. You will not be called upon to share my poverty. You had better return to Paris at once. With a faint hope that you will at least pity me,
I remain,
Your affectionate father,
Gerard Ffrench."
