copying, in a very fair hand a page from a French dictionary. Near the
bed, in the shade, sat a poorly but neatly clad woman about forty years
of age, who was knitting industriously with some long wooden needles.

"M. Victor Chupin?" inquired M. Fortunat.

The sound of his voice made the young man spring to his feet. He quickly
lifted the shade from his lamp, and, without attempting to conceal his
astonishment, exclaimed: "M'sieur Fortunat!--at this hour! Where's
the fire?" Then, in a grave manner that contrasted strangely with
his accustomed levity: "Mother," said he, "this is one of my patrons,
M'sieur Fortunat--you know--the gentleman whom I collect for."

The knitter rose, bowed respectfully, and said: "I hope, sir, that you
are pleased with my son, and that he's honest."

"Certainly, madame," replied the agent; "certainly. Victor is one of my
best and most reliable clerks."

"Then I'm content," said the woman, reseating herself.

Chupin also seemed delighted "This is my good mother, sir," said he.
"She's almost blind now; but, in less than six months she will be able
to stand at her window and see a pin in the middle of the street, so
the physician who is treating her eyes promised me; then we shall be
all right again. But take a seat, sir. May we venture to offer you
anything?"

Although his clerk had more than once alluded to his responsibilities,
M. Fortunat was amazed. He marvelled at the perfume of honesty which
exhaled from these poor people, at the dignity of this humble woman, and
at the protecting and respectful affection evinced by her son--a young
man, whose usual tone of voice and general behavior had seemed to
indicate that he was decidedly a scapegrace. "Thanks, Victor," he
replied, "I won't take any refreshment. I've just left the dinner-table.
I've come to give you my instructions respecting a very important and
very urgent matter."

Chupin at once understood that his employer wished for a private
interview. Accordingly, he took up the lamp, opened a door, and, in the
pompous tone of a rich banker who is inviting some important personage
to enter his private room, he said: "Will you be kind enough to step
into my chamber, m'sieur?"

The room which Chupin so emphatically denominated his "chamber" was a
tiny nook, extraordinarily clean, it is true, but scantily furnished
with a small iron bedstead, a trunk, and a chair. He offered the chair
to his visitor, placed the lamp on the trunk, and