l all should it become necessary, or should
Albert's position become worse. For the time being, he contented himself
with strongly approving his young friend.

"Bravo! my boy," said he; "you have a noble heart. I feared to see you
spoiled by wealth and rank; pardon me. You will remain, I see, what you
have always been in your more humble position. But, tell me, you have,
then, seen your father, the count?"

Now, for the first time, Noel seemed to notice the nun's eyes, which,
lighted by eager curiosity, glittered in the shadow like carbuncles.
With a look, he drew the old man's attention to her, and said: "I have
seen him; and everything is arranged to my satisfaction. I will tell you
all, in detail, by-and-by, when we are more at ease. By this bedside, I
am almost ashamed of my happiness."

M. Tabaret was obliged to content himself with this reply and this
promise. Seeing that he would learn nothing that evening, he spoke
of going to bed, declaring himself tired out by what he had had to do
during the day. Noel did not ask him to stop. He was expecting, he said,
Madame Gerdy's brother, who had been sent for several times, but who
was not at home. He hardly knew how he could again meet this brother,
he added: he did not yet know what conduct he ought to pursue. Should
he tell him all? It would only increase his grief. On the other hand,
silence would oblige him to play a difficult part. The old man advised
him to say nothing; he could explain all later on.

"What a fine fellow Noel is!" murmured old Tabaret, as he regained
his apartments as quietly as possible. He had been absent from home
twenty-four hours; and he fully expected a formidable scene with his
housekeeper. Mannette was decidedly out of temper, and declared once
for all, that she would certainly seek a new place if her master did not
change his conduct.

She had remained up all night, in a terrible fright, listening to the
least sound on the stairs, expecting every moment to see her master
brought home on a litter, assassinated. There had been great commotion
in the house. M. Gerdy had gone down a short time after her master, and
she had seen him return two hours later. After that, they had sent for
the doctor. Such goings on would be the death of her, without counting
that her constitution was too weak to allow her to sit up so late. But
Mannette forgot that she did not sit up on her master's account nor on
Noel's but was expecting one of her old frie