.

"At another moment, madam," said I, trying to pass on; "I am greatly
pressed for time just now."

"It is exactly for that reason I must speak with you," said she, firmly;
and at the same instant she seized my arm and drew me into a room, of
which she closed the door at once. "I suspect the object you have in
view, young man," said she, boldly, to me. "You are eager for a quarrel.
The waiters have told me all that has occurred at table; and I can guess
what is likely to follow. But surely it is not for one in _her_ position
that you will risk your life, or rather sell it; for Carrier would
surely kill you!"

"In _her_ position!" said I. "What do you mean? You cannot dare to throw
an imputation on one who is little more than a child!"

"True; but a child of shame and infamy," said she, sternly.

"It is a falsehood,--a damnable falsehood!" cried I. "I knew both her
parents: her father died almost in my arms."

"It is as likely that you never saw her father in your life," rejoined
she, calmly. "I see that you know little of her history; but she comes
from the village of Linange, and we Auvergnats are well acquainted with
her."

"Yes, Linange is her native village,--that is true," cried I, in a vague
terror of some dreadful tidings. "Tell me, I beseech you, whatever you
know of her story."

"It is soon told, though the tale be sad enough," said she, after a
pause. "Her mother was a Mademoiselle Nipernois. She called herself De
Nipernois, and not without reason; for the family had been of rank, and
were Grand Seigneurs once on a time. Her father had, however, fallen
into poverty, and for a livelihood was obliged to become a _pharmacien_
in the little village of Linange, every house of which had once belonged
to his family. They said he was a great chemist, which he had become for
his own amusement in his prosperous days; and fortunately he could now
practise the art for his support. At all events, the Blues wrecked
his chateau, burned his books, melted down his plate, and left him
penniless; so that he was fain to seek shelter amidst what once he would
have styled his own 'vilains,' but who were now, thanks to the glorious
fruits of the Revolution, his equals. That was not to be his only
humiliation, however. A young noble that was betrothed to his eldest
daughter, Hortense, and was to have married her just before 'the
troubles,' joined the mildest party of the anarchists, and actually
assisted at the sack of the