ly declared, even if she was
satisfied that Marguerite was not living, she would sign the deed. In
the house, both of them examined the letter. Fitz did not know a word
of French, and his mother could only make out "_Mon cher pere_," and an
occasional word in the letter.

"I will tell you what we can do, mother. Andre Maggimore, round in
Phillimore Court, is a Frenchman, and can talk French like a Dutchman."

"But he is very sick, you said."

"So he is. Well, his daughter Maggie can read it. I will take it to her
this evening."

After supper, Fitz, with the letter in his pocket, started for the
barber's house.

CHAPTER XVII.

THE LETTER FROM FRANCE.

Leo conducted his team to Pemberton Square, and knocked at the back
door of the rich man's house. One of the kitchen girls answered the
summons, and great was her surprise when she saw the palace of the
mice. It was taken into the kitchen, and Mrs. Checkynshaw was called.
She came down, accompanied by Miss Elinora. Leo explained that the
banker had purchased the establishment, and that he had been directed
to deliver it.

Elinora, though she had sat up late the night before at the party, and
had been very ill-natured all day, was surprised into a smile of
pleasure when she saw the cunning little creatures in their curious
house. Leo gave them some canary seed, of which he carried a supply in
his pocket, in order to induce the pets to exhibit themselves when
desired. They had behaved very well thus far, and had produced a
favorable impression upon all who had seen them.

Elinora was pleased with the mice because they promised to afford her a
new sensation.

"I think I'll have them in my chamber, mother, where I can see them,"
said she, after she had looked at them a while.

"I wouldn't have them in my chamber, miss," replied Leo.

"Why, not?"

"They sleep in the daytime, and train in the night. They would rattle
about the house so that you could not sleep."

"I will have them in my dressing-room, then," added she.

"That's not exactly the place for them," continued Leo, who had not a
very clear idea of what the dressing-room was.

"Where would you keep them, then?" asked Elinora, petulantly.

"In the kitchen, or the back room."

"What, keep such a pretty cage as that in the kitchen?" exclaimed the
rich man's daughter.

"You can see it just as well in the kitchen as in the parlor, and it is
just as handsome in one place as another, miss. Whit