原文 (英语)

CHAPTER VIII A PUZZLING CORRESPONDENCE "But I can not see any reason why we should not take Jacqueline with us to Italy. She is just of an age to profit by it." These words were spoken by M. de Nailles after a long silence at the breakfast-table. They startled his hearers like a bomb. Jacqueline waited to hear what would come next, fixing a keen look upon her stepmother. Their eyes met like the flash of two swords. The eyes of the one said: "Now, let us hear what you will an