the others in an intelligible manner. These were the words
"friends" and "against," and they were the most legibly written of
all. For the thirtieth time the magistrate was repeating them in an
undertone, when a rap came at the door, and almost immediately Madame
Leon entered the room.

"What is it?" inquired Mademoiselle Marguerite.

Laying a package of letters, addressed to M. de Chalusse, on the desk,
the housekeeper replied: "These have just come by the post for the
poor count. Heaven rest his soul!" And then handing a newspaper to
Mademoiselle Marguerite, she added, in an unctuous tone: "And some one
left this paper for mademoiselle at the same time."

"This paper--for me? You must be mistaken."

"Not at all. I was in the concierge's lodge when the messenger brought
it; and he said it was for Mademoiselle Marguerite, from one of her
friends." And with these words she made one of her very best courtesies,
and withdrew.

The girl had taken the newspaper, and now, with an air of astonishment
and apprehension, she slowly unfolded it. What first attracted her
attention was a paragraph on the first page marked round with red chalk.
The paper had evidently been sent in order that she might read this
particular passage, and accordingly she began to peruse it. "There was a
great sensation and a terrible scandal last evening at the residence of
Madame d'A----, a well known star of the first magnitude----"

It was the shameful article which described the events that had robbed
Pascal of his honor. And to make assurance doubly sure, to prevent the
least mistake concerning the printed initials, the coward who sent the
paper had appended the names of the persons mixed up in the affair, at
full length, in pencil. He had written d'Argeles, Pascal Ferailleur,
Ferdinand de Coralth, Rochecote. And yet, in spite of these precautions,
the girl did not at first seize the full meaning of the article; and
she was obliged to read it over again. But when she finally understood
it--when the horrible truth burst upon her--the paper fell from her
nerveless hands, she turned as pale as death, and, gasping for breath,
leaned heavily against the wall for support.

Her features expressed such terrible suffering that the magistrate
sprang from his chair with a bound. "What has happened?" he eagerly
asked.

She tried to reply, but finding herself unable to do so, she pointed to
the paper lying upon the floor, and gasped: "There! there!"