d, from the true state of a
heart now wholly filled by Felix. Flavie, seeing the manner in which
la Peyrade put forth his seductions, was reminded of the pains he had
formerly taken to fascinate herself. "The monster!" she said, beneath
her breath. But she was forced to bear the torture with a good grace; la
Peyrade was evidently approved by all, and in the course of the evening
a circumstance came to light, showing a past service done by him to the
house of Thuillier, which brought his influence and his credit to the
highest point.

Minard was announced.

"My dear friends," he said, "I have come to make a little revelation
which will greatly surprise you, and will, I think, prove a lesson
to all of us when a question arises as to receiving foreigners in our
homes."

"What is it?" cried Brigitte, with curiosity.

"That Hungarian woman you were so delighted with, that Madame Torna,
Comtesse de Godollo--"

"Well?" exclaimed the old maid.

"Well," continued Minard, "she was no better than she should be; you
were petting in your house for two months the most impudent of kept
women."

"Who told you that tale?" asked Brigitte, not willing to admit that she
had fallen into such a snare.

"Oh, it isn't a tale," said the mayor, eagerly. "I know the thing
myself, 'de visu.'"

"Dear me! do you frequent such women?" said Brigitte, resuming the
offensive. "That's a pretty thing! what would Zelie say if she knew it?"

"In the discharge of my duties," said Minard, stiffly, provoked at this
reception of his news, "I have seen _your friend_, Madame de Godollo, in
company with others of her class."

"How do you know it was she if you only saw her?" demanded Brigitte.

The wily Provencal was not the man to lose an occasion that fell to him
ready-made.

"Monsieur le maire is not mistaken," he said, with decision.

"Tiens! so you know her, too," said Brigitte; "and you let us consort
with such vermin?"

"No," said la Peyrade, "on the contrary. Without scandal, without saying
a word to any one, I removed her from your house. You remember how
suddenly the woman left it? It was I who compelled her to do so; having
discovered what she was, I gave her two days to leave the premises;
threatening her, in case she hesitated, to tell you all."

"My dear Theodose," said Thuillier, pressing his hand, "you acted with
as much prudence as decision. This is one more obligation that we owe to
you."

"You see, mademoiselle," said la