d my pride, and increased
my importance in my own eyes. I was nearly fifteen, and my term of
apprenticeship had almost expired, when one bright day in March, I saw
one of the lay sisters of the asylum enter the work-room. She was in a
flutter of excitement; her face was crimson, and she was so breathless
from her hurried ascent of the stairs that she gasped rather than
said to me: 'Quick! come--follow me! Some one is waiting for you!'
'Who?--where?'--'Make haste! Ah! my dear child, if you only knew----' I
hesitated; but Madame Greloux pushed me toward the door, exclaiming:
'Be off, you little stupid!' I followed the sister without thinking
of changing my dress--without even removing the kitchen apron I wore.
Downstairs, at the front door, stood the most magnificent carriage I had
ever seen in my life. Its rich silk cushions were so beautiful that
I scarcely dared to enter it; and I was all the more intimidated by
a footman in gorgeous livery, who respectfully opened the door at our
approach. 'You must get into the carriage,' said the sister; 'it
was sent for you.' I obeyed her, and before I had recovered from my
astonishment we had reached the asylum, and I was ushered into the
office where the contract which bound me as an apprentice had been
signed. As soon as I entered, the superior took me by the hand and led
me toward a gentleman who was sitting near the window. 'Marguerite,'
said she, 'salute Monsieur le Comte de Chalusse.'"

IX.

For some little time there had been a noise of footsteps and a subdued
murmur of voices in the vestibule. Annoyed by this interruption,
although he perfectly understood its cause, the magistrate rose and
hastily opened the door. He was not mistaken. His clerk had returned
from lunch, and the time of waiting seemed extremely long to him. "Ah!
it's you," said the magistrate. "Very well! begin your inventory. It
won't be long before I join you." And closing the door he resumed his
seat again. Mademoiselle Marguerite was so absorbed in her narrative
that she scarcely noticed this incident, and he had not seated himself
before she resumed. "In all my life, I had never seen such an imposing
looking person as the Count de Chalusse. His manner, attire, and
features could not fail to inspire a child like me with fear and
respect. I was so awed that I had scarcely enough presence of mind to
bow to him. He glanced at me coldly, and exclaimed: 'Ah! is this
the young girl you were speaking