tary Dupuis absconded?" screamed Madame Lambert, driven by
this dreadful news entirely out of her usual tones of dulcet sweetness
and Christian resignation. "Ah, the villain! it was only this morning
that he was taking the sacrament at Saint-Jacques du Haut-Pas."

"To pray for a safe journey, probably," said la Peyrade.

"Monsieur talks lightly enough," continued Madame Lambert, "though that
brigand has carried off my savings. But I gave them to monsieur, and
monsieur is answerable to me for them; he is the only one I know in this
transaction."

"Hey?" said la Peyrade to Thuillier, pointing to Madame Lambert, whose
whole demeanor had something of the mother-wolf suddenly bereft of her
cubs; "is that nature? tell me! Do you think now that madame and I are
playing a comedy for your benefit?"

"I am thunderstruck at Cerizet's audacity," said Thuillier. "I am
overwhelmed with my own stupidity; there is nothing for me to do but to
submit myself entirely to your discretion."

"Madame," said la Peyrade, gaily, "excuse me for thus frightening you;
the notary Dupuis is still a very saintly man, and quite incapable of
doing an injury to his clients. As for monsieur here, it was necessary
that I should prove to him that you had really placed that money in my
hands; he is, however, another myself, and your secret, though known to
him, is as safe as it is with me."

"Oh, very good, monsieur!" said Madame Lambert. "I suppose these
gentlemen have no further need of me?"

"No, my dear madame, and I beg you to pardon me for the little terror I
was compelled to occasion you."

Madame Lambert turned to leave the room with all the appearance of
respectful humility, but when she reached the door, she retraced her
steps, and coming close to la Peyrade said, in her smoothest tones:--

"When does monsieur expect to be able to refund me that money?"

"But I told you," said la Peyrade, stiffly, "that notaries never return
on demand the money placed in their hands."

"Does monsieur think that if I went to see Monsieur Dupuis himself and
asked him--"

"I think," said la Peyrade, interrupting her, "that you would do a most
ridiculous thing. He received the money from me in my own name, as you
requested, and he knows only me in the matter."

"Then monsieur will be so kind, will he not, as to get back that
money for me as soon as possible? I am sure I would not wish to press
monsieur, but in two or three months from now I may want it;