those who have too much should have the right of coming to the aid of
those who have too little.  Marshal Simon's daughters are members of my
family, and they will reside here with me, which will be more suitable.
You will apprise your worthy mother of this; and in the evening, besides
going to thank her for the hospitality which she has shown to my young
relations, I shall fetch them home."

At this moment Georgette, throwing open the door which separated the room
from an adjacent apartment, hurriedly entered, with an affrighted look,
exclaiming:

"Oh, madame, something extraordinary is going on in the street."

"How so?  Explain yourself," said Adrienne.

"I went to conduct my dressmaker to the little garden-gate," said
Georgette; "where I saw some ill-looking men, attentively examining the
walls and windows of the little out-building belonging to the pavilion,
as if they wished to spy out some one."

"Madame," said Agricola, with chagrin, "I have not been deceived.  They
are after me."

"What say you?"

"I thought I was followed, from the moment when I left the Rue St. Merry:
and now it is beyond doubt.  They must have seen me enter your house; and
are on the watch to arrest me.  Well, now that your interest has been
acquired for my mother,--now that I have no farther uneasiness for
Marshal Simon's daughters,--rather than hazard your exposure to anything
the least unpleasant, I run to deliver myself up."

"Beware of that sir," said Adrienne, quickly.  "Liberty is too precious
to be voluntarily sacrificed.  Besides, Georgette may have been mistaken.
But in any case, I entreat you not to surrender yourself.  Take my
advice, and escape being arrested.  That, I think, will greatly
facilitate my measures; for I am of opinion that justice evinces a great
desire to keep possession of those upon whom she has once pounced."

"Madame," said Hebe, now also entering with a terrified look, "a man
knocked at the little door, and inquired if a young man in a blue blouse
has not entered here.  He added, that the person whom he seeks is named
Agricola Baudoin, and that he has something to tell him of great
importance."

"That's my name," said Agricola; "but the important information is a
trick to draw me out."

"Evidently," said Adrienne; "and therefore we must play off trick for
trick.  What did you answer, child?" added she, addressing herself to
Hebe.

"I answered, that I didn't know what he was talking about."

"Quite right," said Adrienne: "and the man who put the question?"

"He went away, madame."

"Without doubt to come back again, soon," said Agricola.

"That is very probable," said Adrienne, "and therefore, sir, it is
necessary for you to remain here some hours with resignation.  I am
unfortunately obliged to go immediately to the Princess Saint-Dizier, my
aunt, for an important interview, which can no longer be delayed, and is
rendered more pressing still by what you have told me concerning the
daughters of Marshal Simon.  Remain here, then, sir; since if you go out,
you will certainly be arrested."

"Madame, pardon my refusal; but I must say once more that I ought not to
accept this generous offer."

"Why?"

"They have tried to draw me out, in order to avoid penetrating with the
power of the law into your dwelling but if I go not out, they will come
in; and never will I expose you to anything so disagreeable.  Now that I
am no longer uneasy about my mother, what signifies prison?"

"And the grief that your mother will feel, her uneasiness, and her
fears,--nothing?  Think of your father; and that poor work-woman who
loves you as a brother, and whom I value as a sister;--say, sir, do you
forget them also?  Believe me, it is better to spare those torments to
your family.  Remain here; and before the evening I am certain, either by
giving surety, or some other means, of delivering you from these
annoyances."

"But, madame, supposing that I do accept your generous offer, they will
come and find me here."

"Not at all.  There is in this pavilion, which was formerly the abode of
a nobleman's left-handed wife,--you see, sir," said Adrienne, smiling,
"that live in a very profane place--there is here a secret place of
concealment, so wonderfully well-contrived, that it can defy all
searches.  Georgette will conduct you to it.  You will be very well
accommodated.  You will even be able to write some verses for me, if the
place inspire you."

"Oh, madame! how great is your goodness! how have I merited it?"

"Oh, sir, I will tell you.  Admitting that your character and your
position do not entitle you to any interest;--admitting that I may not
owe a sacred debt to your father for the touching regards and cares he
has bestowed upon the daughters of Marshal Simon, my relations--do you
forget Frisky, sir?" asked Adrienne, laughing,--"Frisky, there, whom you
have restored to my fondles?  Seriously, if I laugh," continued this
singular and extravagant creature, "it is because I know that you are
entirely out of danger, and that I feel an increase of happiness.
Therefore, sir, write for me quickly your address, and your mother's, in
this pocket-book; follow Georgette; and spin me some pretty verses, if
you do not bore yourself too much in that prison to which you fly."

While Georgette conducted the blacksmith to the hiding-place, Hebe
brought her mistress a small gray beaver hat with a gray feather; for
Adrienne had to cross the park to reach the house occupied by the
Princess Saint-Dizier.

A quarter of an hour after this scene, Florine entered mysteriously the
apartment of Mrs. Grivois, the first woman of the princess.

"Well?" demanded Mrs. Grivois of the young woman.

"Here are the notes which I have taken this morning," said Florine,
putting a paper into the duenna's hand.  "Happily, I have a good memory."

"At what time exactly did she return home this morning?"  asked the
duenna, quickly.

"Who, madame?"

"Miss Adrienne."

"She did not go out, madame.  We put her in the bath at nine o'clock."

"But before nine o'clock she came home, after having passed the night out
of her house.  Eight o'clock was the time at which she returned,
however."

Florine looked at Mrs. Grivois with profound astonishment, and said--

"I do not understand you, madame."

"What's that?  Madame did not come home this morning at eight o'clock?
Dare you lie?"

"I was ill yesterday, and did not come down till nine this morning, in
order to assist Georgette and Hebe help our young lady from the bath.  I
know nothing of what passed previously, I swear to you, madame."

"That alters the case.  You must ferret out what I allude to from your
companions.  They don't distrust you, and will tell you all."

"Yes, madame."

"What has your mistress done this morning since you saw her?"

"Madame dictated a letter to Georgette for M. Norval, I requested
permission to send it off, as a pretext for going out, and for writing
down all I recollected."

"Very well.  And this letter?"

"Jerome had to go out, and I gave it him to put in the post-office."

"Idiot!" exclaimed Mrs. Grivois: "couldn't you bring it to me?"

"But, as madame dictated it aloud to Georgette, as is her custom, I knew
the contents of the letter; and I have written it in my notes."

"That's not the same thing.  It is likely there was need to delay sending
off this letter; the princess will be very much displeased."

"I thought I did right, madame."

"I know that it is not good will that fails you.  For these six months I
have been satisfied with you.  But this time you have committed a very
great mistake."

"Be indulgent, madame! what I do is sufficiently painful!"  The girl
stifled a sigh.

Mrs. Grivois looked fixedly at her, and said in a sardonic tone:

"Very well, my dear, do not continue it.  If you have scruples, you are
free.  Go your way."

"You well know that I am not free, madame," said Florine, reddening; and
with tears in her eyes she added:  "I am dependent upon M. Rodin, who
placed me here."

"Wherefore these regrets, then?"

"In spite of one's self, one feels remorse.  Madame is so good, and so
confiding."

"She is all perfection, certainly!  But you are not here to sing her
praises.  What occurred afterwards?"

"The working-man who yesterday found and brought back Frisky, came early
this morning and requested permission to speak with my young lady."

"And is this working-man still in her house?"

"I don't know.  He came in when I was going out with the letter."

"You must contrive to learn what it was this workingman came about."

"Yes, madame."

"Has your mistress seemed preoccupied, uneasy, or afraid of the interview
which she is to have to-day with the princess?  She conceals so little of
what she thinks, that you ought to know."

"She has been as gay as usual.  She has even jested about the interview!"

"Oh! jested, has she?" said the tire-woman, muttering between her teeth,
without Florine being able to hear her:  "'They laugh most who laugh
last.' In spite of her audacious and diabolical character, she would
tremble, and would pray for mercy, if she knew what awaits her this day."
Then addressing Florine, she continued--

"Return, and keep yourself, I advise you, from those fine scruples, which
will be quite enough to do you a bad turn.  Do not forget!"

"I cannot forget that I belong not to myself, madame."

"Anyway, let it be so.  Farewell."

Florine quitted the mansion and crossed the park to regain the summer-
house, while Mrs Grivois went immediately to the Princess Saint-Dizier.

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