After that, having dined with M. de Brevan, he went all over Paris in search of the thousand little things which are necessary for such a long and perilous voyage.  He came home late, and was fortunate enough to fall asleep as soon as he had lain down.  The next morning he breakfasted in his rooms, for fear of being out of the house when they should bring him the key.

It came towards one o’clock.  It was brought by a large girl, nearly thirty years old, with a cross expression of face, and eyes more than modestly seeking the ground, and with narrow lips which seemed to be perpetually engaged in reciting prayers.  This was Clarissa, whom Henrietta considered the safest of her waiting-women, and whom she had taken into her confidence.

“Miss Henrietta,” she said to Daniel, “has given me this key and this letter for you, sir.  She expects an answer.”

Daniel tore the envelope, and read,—­

“Take care, O my darling friend! to resort to this dangerous expedient which we ought to reserve for the last extremity.  Is what you have to tell me really so important as you say?  I can hardly believe it; and yet I send you the key.  Tell Clarissa the precise hour at which you will be here.”

Alas! the poor girl had no idea of the terrible news that was in store for her.

“Request Miss Henrietta,” said Daniel to the maid, “to expect me at seven o’clock.”

Sure now of seeing Henrietta, Daniel slipped the key in his pocket, and hurried away.  He had only a short afternoon to himself, and there were still a thousand things to get, and countless preparations to make.

At his notary’s, where he went first, he found the papers ready; all the formalities had been fulfilled.  But, at the moment when the deed was placed before him, the worthy lawyer said in a prophetic voice,—­

“M.  Champcey, take care, reflect!  I call that tempting a man pretty strongly when you hand over to him fifty thousand dollars the day before you start on a long and dangerous expedition.”

“Ah!  What matters my fortune, if I only see my Henrietta again?”

The notary looked discouraged.

“Ah! if there is a woman in the affair, I have nothing more to say.”

It was as well.  The next moment Daniel had forgotten him and his sombre presentiments.

Seated in M. de Brevan’s little sitting-room, he was handing over his deeds and papers to his faithful confidant, explaining to him how he might make the most of the different parcels of land which he owned; how certain woods might be sold together; how, on the other hand, a large farm, now held by one tenant, might be advantageously divided into small lots, and sold at auction.

M. de Brevan did not look so pale now.  He had recovered his self-possession, and laid aside his usual reserve in order to show himself all eagerness for his friend.

He declared that he would see to it that his friend Daniel should not be robbed.  He intended, therefore, to go himself to Anjou to call upon those who were likely to purchase, and to be present at the sale.  In his opinion, it would be wiser to sell piecemeal, without hurry.  If money was needed, why, one could always get it at the bank.