While the first edition has been getting out of print, I have learned
some very interesting additional circumstances for the second. Julius
hugged his Victor in the garden right heartily, and said: "I am very
glad to be here again,--I have been so alone all day, and not heard a
human being,--thy Italian domestic has absolutely run away." In
Victor's bosom, this unaccountable absconding of a faithful and
contented servant raised, if not a storm-cloud, yet a dark mist. The
quiet Marie had diligently discharged toward the blind one the duties
of the fugitive. "I would gladly have given the Italian his letter
first," Julius continued, "but here I have it still." Victor looked at
it, and found, to his amazement, the address in the handwriting of--his
Lordship. The letter was handed to the _blind one_ a few minutes after
the man's flight, with the request that he would give it to no one but
the Italian. Although Flamin and her Ladyship promised to be answerable
for the breaking of the seal, still Victor addressed himself
reluctantly to this solution of a new charade of his life; for Clotilda
was silent in the matter. Here is an authentic copy:--
"You are right. Do not, however, start till to-morrow, but go
immediately to Mr. * * *. The place remains 5. But VI are necessary."
_Mr_. might mean _Monsieur_ (the fifth son). Further than that there
was nothing to be guessed from this flight of clouds of the coming
weather by the best weather-prophets. The reader, however, may imagine,
merely from his own eager desire to know the significance of these
celestial signs, how great must have been that of our hero.