Le collier de la reine. English

  CHAPTER LXIII.

  THE TWO NEIGHBORS.

  Cagliostro recommended her using the greatest circumspection, and, aboveall, not to make friends with her neighbors; but she did not feeldisposed to relinquish the intercourse which she hoped for with her fairneighbor opposite. She, however, promised to obey him; but he was nosooner gone than she returned to her balcony, hoping to attract herattention again. Nor was she disappointed, for Jeanne, who was watchingfor her, acknowledged her with a bow and by kissing her hand. This wenton for two days. Jeanne was ever ready to wave her a good morning, or anadieu when she went out.

  Cagliostro, at his next visit, informed Oliva that an unknown person hadpaid a visit to her hotel.

  "What do you mean?" cried Oliva.

  "A very pretty and elegant lady presented herself here, and asked theservant who inhabited this story, and wished to see you. I fear you arediscovered; you must take care, the police have female spies as well asmale, and I warn you, that if M. de Crosne claims you, I cannot refuseto give you up."

  Oliva was not at all frightened, she recognized the portrait of heropposite neighbor, and felt delighted at this advance, but shedissembled with the count, and said, "Oh! I am not at all frightened; noone has seen me; she could not have meant me."

  "But she said a lady in these rooms."

  "Well, I will be more careful than ever, and, besides, this house is soimpenetrable."

  "Yes, without climbing the wall, which is not easy, or opening thelittle door with a key like mine, which I never lend, no one can comein, so I think you are safe."

  Oliva overwhelmed the count with thanks and protestations, but at sixo'clock the next morning she was out in the balcony. She had not long towait before Jeanne appeared, who, after looking cautiously up and downthe street, and observing that all the doors and windows were stillclosed, and that everything was quiet, called across, "I wish to pay youa visit, madame; is it impossible to see you?"

  "Alas, yes!" said Oliva.

  "Can I send a letter?"

  "Oh, no!"

  Jeanne, after a moment's thought, left her balcony, but soon returnedwith a cross-bow, with which she shot a little wooden ball right throughthe open window of Oliva's room.

  She picked it up and found wrapped round it the following note:

  "You interest me, beautiful lady. I find you charming, and love you only by having seen you. Are you a prisoner? I vainly tried to obtain admission to you. Does the enchanter who guards you never let any one approach you? Will you be my friend? If you cannot go out, you can at least write, and as I go out when I please, wait till you see me pass, and then throw out your answer. Tie a thread to your balcony, and attach your note to it; I will take it off and fasten mine on, and in the dark no one will observe us. If your eyes have not deceived me, I count on a return of my affection and esteem, and between us we will outwit any one.

  "YOUR FRIEND."

  Oliva trembled with joy when she read this note. She replied as follows:

  "I love you as you love me. I am a victim of the wickedness and cruelty of men; but he who keeps me here is a protector and not a tyrant; he comes to see me nearly every day. I will explain all this some day; but, alas! I cannot go out; I am locked up. Oh! if I could but see you; there is so much we cannot write.

  "Your friend,

  "OLIVA LEGAY."

  Then, when evening came, she let the thread fall over the balcony.Jeanne, who was below, caught it, and half an hour afterwards attachedto it the following answer:

  "You seem generally alone. How is your house secured--with a key? Who has this key? Could you not borrow or steal it? It would be no harm, but would procure you a few hours of liberty, or a few walks with a friend, who would console you for all your misfortune."

  Oliva devoured this eagerly. She had remarked that when the count camein he put down his lantern and the key on a chiffonier. So she preparedsome wax to take the impression of the key at his first visit. This sheaccomplished without his once turning to look at her, and as soon as hewas gone, she put it into a little box, and lowered it to Jeanne, with anote.

  The next day she received the following answer:

  "MY DEAREST,

  "To-night, at eleven o'clock, you will descend and unlock the door, when you will find yourself in the arms of your faithful friend."

  Oliva felt more charmed than with the most tender love-letter that shehad ever received. At the appointed time she went down and met Jeanne,who embraced her tenderly, and made her get into a carriage that waiteda little way off; they remained out two hours, and parted with kissesand protestations of affection. Jeanne learned the name of Oliva'sprotector; she feared this man, and determined to preserve the mostperfect mystery as to her plans. Oliva had confided everything to herabout Beausire, the police, and all. Jeanne gave herself out for a younglady of rank, living here secretly, without the knowledge of herfriends. One knew all, the other nothing. From this day, then, it was nolonger necessary to throw out notes; Jeanne had her key, and carried offOliva whenever she pleased. "M. de Cagliostro suspects nothing?" sheoften asked Oliva.

  "Oh! no," she would reply; "I do not think he would believe it if I toldhim."

  A week passed thus.