Love in a Mask by Honoré De Balzac — Read

One morning, Léon, who had hailed with some excitement the opening of the month of November, returned from drill in low spirits and full of anxious thought. He was about to go at once to his quarters when he heard behind him the trot of a horse, and, turning his head, recognized the Negro. He uttered a cry of surprise and delight as the black rode up to him and, without dismounting, said:

"Here is something I was ordered to bring to you," and at the same moment he placed in his hand a sealed box.