te, he barricaded his door, as if he were
about to commit some horrible crime. More than once have I seen him----"
The words died away on her lips, and she remained motionless and
abashed, like a person who has just escaped some great peril. One
word more, and involuntarily, without even knowing it, she would
have confessed her besetting sin, which was listening at, and peering
through, the keyholes of the doors that were closed against her. Still,
she deluded herself with the belief that this slight indiscretion of her
overready tongue had escaped the magistrate's notice.

He certainly did not seem to be conscious of it, for he was giving
his attention entirely to Mademoiselle Marguerite, who seemed to have
regained the cold reserve and melancholy resignation habitual to her.
"You see, mademoiselle," he remarked, "that I have done all that is
in my power to do. We must now leave the search to chance, and to the
person who takes the inventory. Who knows what surprise may be in store
for us in this immense house, of which we have only explored three
rooms?"

She shook her head gently and replied: "I can never be sufficiently
grateful for your kindness, monsieur, and for the great service you
rendered me in crushing that infamous accusation. As regards the rest, I
have never expected anything--I do not expect anything now."

She believed what she said, and her tone of voice proved this so
unmistakably that the magistrate was surprised and somewhat disturbed.
"Come, come, my young lady," he said, with almost paternal kindness of
manner, "you ought not to despond. Still, you must have certain reasons
for speaking as you do; and as I am free for an hour, we are going to
have a plain talk, as if we were father and daughter."

On hearing these words, the clerk rose with a cloud on his jovial
face. He impatiently jingled his bunch of keys; for as the seals are
successively affixed, each key is confided to the clerk, to remain in
his hands until the seals are removed.

"I understand," said the magistrate. "Your stomach, which is more
exacting in its demands than mine, is not satisfied with a cup of
chocolate till dinner-time. So, go and get your lunch; on your return,
you will find me here. You may now conclude the report, and request
these parties to sign it."

Urged on by hunger, the clerk hastily mumbled over the remainder of the
formula, called all the names that he had inserted in the report, and
each of the servants