scious
of the cold of this December night; nor did he hear the young apprentice
girls, as they passed him, say to each other, "What a handsome man!" The
great Faubourg was alive and seemed to encourage him with its gayety.

"What a pleasure it is to live!" said Jack; "and how hard I mean to
work!" Suddenly he stumbled against a great square basket filled with
fur hats and caps; this basket stood at the door of a shoemaker's stall.
Jack looked in and saw Belisaire, as ugly as ever, but cleaner and
better clothed. Jack was delighted to see him, and entered at once; but
Belisaire was too deeply absorbed in the examination of a pair of shoes
that the cobbler was showing him, to look up. These shoes were not for
himself, but for a tiny child of four or five years of age, pale and
thin, with a head much too large for his body. Belisaire was talking to
the child.

"And they are nice and thick, my dear, and will keep those poor little
feet warm."

Jack's appearance did not seem to surprise him.

"Where did you come from?" he asked, as calmly as if he had seen him the
night before.

"How are you, Belisaire? Is this your child?"

"O, no; it belongs to Madame Weber," said the pedler, with a sigh; and
when he had ascertained that the little thing was well fitted, Belisaire
drew from his pocket a long purse of red wool, and took out some silver
pieces that he placed in the cobbler's hand with that air of importance
assumed by working people when they pay away money.

"Where are you going, comrade?" said the pedler to Jack, as they stood
on the pavement, in a tone so expressive that it seemed to say, If you
take this side, I shall go the other.

Jack, who felt this without being able to understand it, said, "I hardly
know where I am going. I am a journeyman at Eyssendeck's, and I want to
find a room not too far away."

"At Eyssendeck's?" said the pedler. "It is not easy to get in there; one
must bring the best of recommendations."

The expression of his eyes enlightened Jack. Belisaire believed
him guilty of the robbery,--so true it is that accusations, however
unfounded and however explained away, yet leave spots and tarnishes.
When Belisaire saw the letters of the superintendent at Indret, and
heard the whole story, his whole face lighted up with his old smile.
"Listen, Jack, it is too late to seek a lodging to-night; come with me,
for I have a room where you can sleep tonight, and perhaps can suggest
something that wi