The Muse of the Department
THE MUSE OF THE DEPARTMENT BY HONORE DE BALZAC Translated by James Waring DEDICATION To Monsieur le Comte Ferdinand de Gramont. MY DEAR FERDINAND,--If the chances of the world of literature --_habent sua fata libelli_--should allow these lines to be an
"What does that matter to you? Have you any money to give me? I tell
you I must get away. They are on my traces."
"Who?"
"The people, the police."
Juana left the room, but returned immediately.
"Here," she said, holding out to him at arm's length a jewel, "that is
Dona Lagounia's cross. There are four rubies in it, of great value, I
have been told. Take it and go--go!"
"Felicie hasn't come back," he cried, with a sudden thought. "Can she
have been arrested?"
Juana laid the cross on the table, and sprang to the windows that
looked on the street. There she saw, in the moonlight, a file of
soldiers posting themselves in deepest silence along the wall of the
house. She turned, affecting to be calm, and said to her husband:--
"You have not a minute to lose; you must escape through the garden.
Here is the key of the little gate."
As a precaution she turned to the other windows, looking on the
THE MUSE OF THE DEPARTMENT BY HONORE DE BALZAC Translated by James Waring DEDICATION To Monsieur le Comte Ferdinand de Gramont. MY DEAR FERDINAND,--If the chances of the world of literature --_habent sua fata libelli_--should allow these lines to be an