Vautrinwentoutbeforeeighto’clock，andonlycamebackjustasbreakfastwasready。Nobodyprotested，therefore，whenSylvieandChristophewentupataquarterpasteleven，knockedatallthedoors，andannouncedthatbreakfastwaswaiting。WhileSylvieandthemanwereupstairs，Mlle。Michonneau，whocamedownfirst，pouredthecontentsofthephialintothesilvercupbelongingtoVautrin——itwasstandingwiththeothersinthebain-mariethatkeptthecreamhotforthemorningcoffee。Thespinsterhadreckonedonthiscustomofthehousetodoherstrokeofbusiness。Thesevenlodgerswereatlastcollectedtogether，notwithoutsomedifficulty。JustasEugenecamedownstairs，stretchinghimselfandyawning，acommissionairehandedhimaletterfromMme。deNucingen。Itranthus：——
“Ifeelneitherfalsevanitynorangerwhereyouareconcerned，myfriend。Tilltwoo’clockthismorningIwaitedforyou。Oh，thatwaitingforonewhomyoulove！Noonethathadpassedthroughthattorturecouldinflictitonanother。Iknownowthatyouhaveneverlovedbefore。Whatcanhavehappened？Anxietyhastakenholdofme。Iwouldhavecomemyselftofindoutwhathadhappened，ifIhadnotfearedtobetraythesecretsofmyheart。
HowcanIwalkoutordriveoutatthistimeofday？Woulditnotberuin？Ihavefelttothefullhowwretcheditistobeawoman。Sendawordtoreassureme，andexplainhowitisthatyouhavenotcomeafterwhatmyfathertoldyou。Ishallbeangry，butIwillforgiveyou。Oneword，forpity’ssake。Youwillcometomesoon，willyounot？Ifyouarebusy，alinewillbeenough。
Say，’Iwillhastentoyou，’orelse，’Iamill。’Butifyouwereillmyfatherwouldhavecometotellmeso。Whatcanhavehappened？……”
“Yes，indeed，whathashappened？“exclaimedEugene，and，hurryingdowntothedining-room，hecrumpleduptheletterwithoutreadinganymore。“Whattimeisit？“