r lady! it was the sale of this piece of furniture which
seemed to cut her to the very heart. I dare say it was a family piece of
'furniture.'"

At these words, and whilst the shopkeeper was settling with Rigolette as
to the prices of the various articles of purchase, Rodolph was
attentively looking at the _secretaire_ which Mother Bouvard had pointed
out. It was one of those ancient pieces of rosewood furniture, almost
triangular in shape, closed by a front panel, which let down, and,
supported by two long brass hinges, served for a writing-table. In the
centre of this panel, which was inlaid with ornaments of wood of
different patterns, Rodolph observed a cipher let in, of ebony, and
which consisted of an M. and an R., intertwined and surmounted with a
count's coronet. He conjectured, therefore, that the last possessor of
this piece of furniture was a person in an elevated rank of society. His
curiosity increased, and he looked at the _secretaire_ with redoubled
scrutiny; he opened the drawers mechanically, one after the other, when,
having some difficulty in drawing out the last, and trying to discover
the obstacle, he perceived, and drew carefully out, a sheet of paper,
half shut up between the drawer and the bottom of the opening. Whilst
Rigolette was concluding her bargain with Mother Bouvard, Rodolph was
engrossed in examining what he had found. From the numerous erasures
which covered this paper, he perceived that it was the copy of an
unfinished letter. Rodolph, with considerable difficulty, made out what
follows:

"SIR: Be assured that the most extreme misery alone could compel
me to the step which I now take. It is not mistaken pride which
causes my scruples, but the absolute want of any and every claim
on you for the service which I am about to ask. The sight of my
daughter, reduced, as well as myself, to the most frightful
destitution, has made me throw aside all hesitation. A few words
only as to the cause of the misfortunes which have overwhelmed
me. After the death of my husband, all my fortune was three
hundred thousand francs (12,000_l._), which was placed by my
brother with M. Jacques Ferrand, the notary; I received at
Angers, whither I had settled with my daughter, the interest of
this sum, remitted to me by my brother. You know, sir, the
horrible event which put an end to his days. Ruined, as it
seems, by secret and unfortunate speculations