“Then how will you pay your hotel bill?” I cried in consternation. “And what shall you do afterwards?”

Hardly had I left the General, when Potapitch approached me with a summons from the Grandmother. It was now eight o’clock, and she had returned from the Casino after finally losing all that she possessed. I found her sitting in her chair⁠—much distressed and evidently fatigued. Presently Martha brought her up a cup of tea and forced her to drink it; yet, even then I could detect in the old lady’s tone and manner a great change.

True enough, Astley had come hotfoot on receiving the Grandmother’s appeal. Scarcely stopping even to reflect, and with scarcely a word, he counted out the three thousand francs under a note of hand which she duly signed. Then, his business done, he bowed, and lost no time in taking his departure.

Towards the hour of the train’s departure I hastened to the station, and put the Grandmother into her compartment⁠—she and her party occupying a reserved family saloon.

“Read it,” she added.